Chiefs-Chargers Live Game Thread

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- To see the live game thread, follow along below...

First quarter

Gametime temperature: 15 degrees, 44 percent humidity, winds out of north at 3 mph, wind chill of 9 degrees. Chargers win the toss and defer. Chiefs get ball first.

Esa Pole makes his first NFL start, at left tackle.

Chu Godrick gets his NFL debut, on third play of game, after Jaylon Moore injured on snap No. 2. Similar to last week, when Esa Pole entered on second snap for Wanya Morris.

Penalty on Derwin James, personal foul for low block, injured Jaylon Moore (left knee). Moore returned after two snaps. Mahomes sacked by Tuipulotu (sack No. 11 of season), but on third-and-11 Mahomes sidearms pass to Kelce for 17 yards and first down. Mahomes then finds seam up middle for 12-yard touchdown run.

Mahomes hit all three passes on opening TD drive, including 17 yards to Kelce on third-and-11. Pacheco also showed patience on first-down run. Mahomes adds to single-season career high in rushing yards with TD run.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 1 – Mahomes 12-yard touchdown run. Chiefs 7, Chargers 0, 8:52 first quarter. Drive: 11 plays, 68 yards, 6:08.

Rookie Nohl Williams makes ST tackle on kickoff, then stays in for second NFL start. Also started at Buffalo.

Unlike Game 1, when Chiefs expected Chargers to run, Los Angeles comes out with six straight runs to open. Drive concludes with seven runs and three passes. Chargers come out in jumbo package for first several snaps. Jack Cochrane finishes drive for Nick Bolton, who left after taking a hard hit. Rather than a fourth-and-short attempt, old-school Jim Harbaugh takes the points.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 2 – Cameron Dicker 49-yard field goal. Chiefs 7, Chargers 3, 2:30, first quarter. Drive: 11 plays, 41 yards, 6:22.

Xavier Worthy slow to get up. Third Chiefs player to go down in first 14 minutes of game. Strong response from Chargers’ defense, holding Kansas City to three-and-out on second drive after scoring points. Phenomenal bounce on Matt Araiza punt, pinning Chargers at own 9. Punt is 57 yards, all net.

With Nick Bolton back in the game, Chargers get first down by penalty (Nohl Williams hands to face).

End of first quarter: Chiefs 7, Chargers 0.

First quarter team stats... pic.twitter.com/QcSuc3wuSW
— Zak Gilbert (@zaksgilbert) December 14, 2025

Second quarter

Charles Omenihu trips up Justin Herbert for third sack of season. Huge third-down stop.

On first down, Chiefs go deep and Chargers cornerback Cam Hart gives an affectionate bear hug on Tyquan Thornton but no flag. Tuipulotu, gets second sack to end drive. Tuipulotu today: four tackles, two sacks, three QB hits, three tackles for loss.

Gillotte did not have an interception in college at Louisville, but after turnover, Chargers stop Chiefs on first-and-goal from 8. Butker’s 27-yard FG attempt is good.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 3 – Butker 27-yard field goal. Chiefs 10, Chargers 3, 8:04 second quarter. Drive: 7 plays, 10 yards, 2:55.

Injury update for Chargers: R.J. Mickens (shoulder is questionable).

On ensuing kickoff, Kevin Knowles blows up blocker and crushes return man Lambert-Smith. After Drue Tranquill stops Herbert on third down, Harbaugh keeps offense on field on fourth down. Xavier Worthy has cleared concussion protocol.

Meanwhile, on fourth-and-short, Chris Jones lines up in neutral zone on consecutive snaps (timeout called first time). Officials see it and give Chargers first down, offsides. However, Jaylen Watson sacks Herbert and Bolton pressure forces incompletion. Chargers for some reason attempt bouncing lateral on third-and-long but Chiefs make tackle to force punt.

Big third-down conversion for Chiefs after two-minute warning, Mahomes to Rice. With Chiefs driving, Jaylon Moore goes down again, appeared to collide with Teair Tart. Injury forces KC to take second timeout. Mahomes hits Worthy on big 26-yard chunk pass to get out of bounds with under a minute. Then, on third down, Mahomes goes deep for Worthy and cornerback Benjamin St-Juste appears to be face guarding and have a hold on his arm but no call. Butker connects on 47-yard kick to extend lead.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 4 – Butker 47-yard field goal. Chiefs 13, Chargers 3, 42 seconds, second quarter. Drive: 10 plays, 66 yards, 2:12.

After replay review, Herbert’s 37-yard strike to Tre Harris stands (Chris Jones missed sack by split-second). Herbert steps up in pocket to avoid George Karlaftis, who wanted holding, and makes jump throw to hit Lambert-Smith (second career reception) for 16-yard touchdown. Chiefs 13, Chargers 10, 0:05, second quarter. Drive: Five plays, 60 yards, 33 seconds.

Halftime: Chiefs 13, Chargers 10. Los Angeles gets ball coming out of locker room.

Chargers get ball coming out of locker room. Chiefs up 13-10. First-half stats... pic.twitter.com/x3d6a9Wx1b
— Zak Gilbert (@zaksgilbert) December 14, 2025

Third quarter

Bolton shaken up again after tackling 296-pound Scott Matlcok, then Herbert steps up in pocket and hits Gadsden for 27 yards inside the 10. Chris Jones now injured, but walks off on own power. Karlaftis throws Hampton for a 1-yard loss but now Jaylen Watson injured on goal line. Strong defensive stop for Chiefs on first-and-goal, including third-down sack split by Omenihu and Chenal (Herbert nearly lost ball).

SCORING UPDATE NO. 4 – Cameron Dicker 23-yard field goal. Chiefs 13, Chargers 13, 8:55, third quarter. Drive – 11 plays, 66 yards, 6:05.

On first drive of half, Derwin James blasts Rashee Rice on incompletion, Rice drops next pass and then Oweh sacks Mahomes, beating rookie Esa Pole. Chiefs punt.

Significant stop for Chiefs’ defense without Chris Jones, who returned for last play. Chargers punt in tie game.

Another big stick by Tony Jefferson on Rashee Rice, clean hit. Rice on turf with trainers, then jogs off on own power. Chiefs forced to punt – their fourth three-and-out possession on afternoon.

Gillotte and Hicks combine to sack Herbert on third down but Chargers drive far enough to get into Dicker’s range. His 49-yard field goal gives Chargers first lead.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 5 – Cameron Dicker 49-yard field goal. Chargers 16, Chiefs 13, 56 seconds, third quarter. Drive: five plays, 29 yards, 2:40.

End of third quarter: Chargers up 16-13. Chiefs driving with first down from their own 44-yard line.

End of third quarter, after Dicker hits 49-yard go ahead FG. Chargers up, 16-13. Stats through three quarters: pic.twitter.com/C0dceieSjU
— Zak Gilbert (@zaksgilbert) December 14, 2025

Fourth quarter

Chiefs sputter a bit to begin quarter. Chu Godrick gives up sack to Oweh. Then, Chiefs line gives Mahomes plenty of time and he connects with Thornton but JuJu Smith-Schuster called for questionable blindside block. The 15 yards take Chiefs out of the first down. Then, on third-and-long, Thornton makes first-down catch but takes massive hit to head/neck area from Jefferson. Fight breaks out. Officials gain control, then disqualify Jefferson from game.

On third-and-long, Daiyan Henley makes incredible catch to intercept Mahomes at 1-yard line. Chargers ball with 12:41 remaining.

Two massive implications developing here: 1) Should Chiefs lose, and Bills, Jags and Texans win, Kansas City is eliminated from playoffs for first time since 2014; 2) Chiefs have not been swept by a division team since 2014, longest active streak of seasons in league.

Two huge plays by Chiefs’ defense, Bryan Cook to break up pass to Keenan Allen, followed by Karlaftis forcing incompletion, near sack (if not for phenomenal effort by Herbert to keep knee off ground). Clock is now the Chiefs’ enemy. Just 5:20 left. On punt, another Chiefs’ special-teams penalty (holding) pushes KC back.

Kareem Hunt is automatic on short-yardage. Two-minute warning. Chiefs have first-and-10 from Chargers' 46. Down 16-13. Arrowhead holding its breath.

Mahomes injured after Da’Shawn Hand tackled awkwardly near Chiefs’ sideline. Looked like right leg. Gardner Minshew in game. Chiefs also called for holding on play.

Minshew completes first three passes but Mahomes taken to locker room with towel on head.

Minshew is intercepted by Derwin James. Chiefs will be eliminated from playoffs for first time since 2014.

FINAL SCORE: Chargers score 13 unanswered points. Chargers 16, Chiefs 13.

keenan alle — [US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Sep 5, 2025; Sao Paulo, BRAZIL; Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) runs against Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) in the second half during a NFL game at Corinthians Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jean Carniel/Reuters via Imagn Images | Jean Carniel/Reuters via Imagn Images

Culture is built

Building the culture is one of the most overused clichés in sports. Expect to hear it about 916 times in the next six weeks as six-nine NFL teams announce new head coaches.

Secretly, the lofty example most new head coaches envision when they take over their teams is the one that’s driven Kansas City to five of the last six Super Bowls. For the first time since 2014, that Andy Reid culture is serving as a foundation for a team below .500 in December.

“Our hope and our confidence comes from the fact that we did it before,” safety Bryan Cook said Friday, explaining the team’s outlook entering a murky postseason future. “So, it's not like something that we haven't done before. It's more just sharpen the tools, you tighten the bolts, and you go moving forward.”

Before they move forward at a frigid Arrowhead Stadium, a few appetizers…

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

Culture is built

Recommended stories you may have missed this week