Justin Herbert and the Chargers traveled to Kansas City to try to prove that they can finally compete with Patrick Mahomes and the team that has won six straight Western Division titles.
And they did for 3 1/2 quarters, but an interception by a rookie defensive end changed the narrative of this game, and Herbert (who left the game with an apparent rib injury) came up short and suffered his first loss at Arrowhead.
These are the three keys to victory for the Chiefs, who have won 14 of the most recent 17 against the Chargers:
El pick-6
Jaylen Watson is a rookie defensive back who was drafted in the seventh round by the Chiefs out of Washington State University. This Thursday night was his first game in prime-time in his first career in the NFL. And what a presentation!
Watson intercepted Herbert at the Kansas City 1-yard line and took the gift 99 yards into the end zone to give the Chiefs their first lead of the game, 24-17 with 10:29 left in the fourth quarter.
The touchdown moved the moment of the game to the homeowners’ side and the visitors were unable to come back.
Herbert’s injury
As the game clock read 5:09, Herbert was injured on a play in which the defensive end Mike Danna fell on him. Herbert lay on the pitch for a while, then came out by his own feet and only missed one move.
But, when he returned to the field, the Chargers quarterback was hit again and immediately touched the left area of the chest, with an apparent rib injury.
Herbert stayed in the game and, despite the pain, hit a 35-yard pass down the middle of the field to DeAndre Carter on fourth down just before the two-minute interval. And later he found on the diagonals Joshua Palmer to pull the Chargers closer, 27-24 with 1:11 left in the game.
Mahomes and the big plays
Mahomes was 24-for-35 with 235 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The second one was one of those plays that only he can make.
Just as the pocket seemed to be collapsing, Mahomes escaped and threw an impressive 41-yard pass that fell into the hands of Justin Watsonfor the touchdown that pulled Kansas City within 17-14 midway through the third quarter.
In the play, Mahomes victimized JC Jacksonnew acquisition of the Chargers and one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.
These two teams will meet again on November 20 in Los Angeles.
