The Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in São Paulo, Brazil by a closing rating of 27-21, due to a 318-yard, three-touchdown efficiency by LA quarterback Justin Herbert. He additionally had 33 dashing yards, together with a game-clinching 19-yard scramble within the fourth quarter.
The Chargers acquired issues going with a 33-yard catch-and-run by broad receiver Quentin Johnston, setting the Bolts up deep in Kansas Metropolis’s territory. Although the Chiefs held Los Angeles on a third and eight, that cease was nullified by an offsides penalty. On the very subsequent play, Johnston caught a five-yard landing cross to provide LA a 7-0 lead. He completed the sport with 5 catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns.
KC struggled early in opposition to the NFL’s top-ranked scoring from final season. They punted on their first three possessions whereas going 0 for 3 on third-down makes an attempt. It additionally didn’t assist that second-year broad receiver Xavier Worthy left the sport with a shoulder damage.
LA tight finish Tyler Conklin was an important a part of the Chargers’ third sequence. The previous New York Jet caught two passes for 50 yards to shut out the primary quarter. Nevertheless, the promising drive sputtered out after Los Angeles dedicated back-to-back holding penalties, forcing the Bolts to accept a 39-yard area objective and a 10-0 benefit.
The Chiefs lastly gained some momentum when operating again Kareem Hunt transformed two totally different fourth-down makes an attempt to get to the Chargers’ 26 yard line. However that drive tapered out after quarterback Patrick Mahomes took a sack, resulting in a 35-yard area objective to chop Los Angeles’ result in 10-3. That 16-play sequence would’ve been the longest drive the Chargers allowed all season in 2024.
LA wideout Ladd McConkey continued to construct on his incredible rookie marketing campaign from final 12 months. He had six receptions within the sport for 74 yards, together with two catches for 32 yards on the second-to-last drive earlier than halftime, permitting the Chargers to hit one other area objective and lengthen their result in 13-3.
Although the offense acquired the ball again with 45 seconds left within the half, Kansas Metropolis took benefit of the time it had, due to a 38-yard reception by broad receiver Tyquan Thornton. This resulted in a 59-yard hearth drill-style area objective by the Chiefs as time expired to make it a 13-6 sport on the break.
KC put collectively a 13-play, 86-yard drive within the third quarter that was capped off with an 11-yard landing run by Patrick Mahomes, who led the Chiefs with 57 dashing yards within the sport. Sadly for Kansas Metropolis, kicker Harrison Buter missed the additional level try, permitting the Chargers to carry onto a 13-12 lead. KC recorded three third-down conversions on that drive. Previous to that, they had been 0/7 on third-down makes an attempt.
Los Angeles’ dashing assault got here alive in direction of the tip of the third quarter. The Chargers picked up 31 of their 90 floor yards on their second possession of the half. That led to Justin Herbert’s second landing cross of the night to place LA up 20-12 heading into the fourth quarter. That TD was hauled in by wideout Keenan Allen, his sixtieth profession receiving landing in a Chargers uniform.
The Chiefs responded with a 37-yard TD cross to tight finish Travis Kelce. However, Kansas Metropolis did not tie the sport after lacking on the two-point conversion try, so the Chargers remained forward with a 20-18 lead.
Justin Herbert wasn’t happy with a two-point lead. He orchestrated an exceptional 13-play, 74-yard landing drive the place he accomplished all eight of his cross makes an attempt to place the Chargers forward by a rating of 27-18 with 5:02 remaining within the sport.
The Chiefs wouldn’t go away quietly, although. Confronted with a 4th and seven from their very own 42 yard line, Patrick Mahomes related with broad receiver Hollywood Brown for a 49-yard cross to get to the Chargers’ 11 yard line. That resulted in a Harrison Butker to make it 27-21 with 2:36 to go.
From there, the Chargers acquired the ball and by no means gave it again. Justin Herbert as soon as once more performed the position of the hero by scrambling for 19 yards on a third and 14 to safe the win.
With the loss, the Chiefs’ report of 17 consecutive wins in one-score video games got here to an finish. Earlier than tonight, Kansas Metropolis’s final loss in a one-score sport got here on December twenty fifth, 2023 in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Chiefs can be again dwelling subsequent week, the place they’ll play host to the Philadelphia Eagles in a rematch of Tremendous Bowl LIX. The next evening, the Chargers can be on the street, going in opposition to the Raiders.
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