Chiefs vs. Chargers score: Kansas City picks off Philip Rivers four times, holds off late comeback attempt

Kansas City has held on to their lead in the AFC West

The Kansas City Chiefs were able to move to 7-4 on the season and maintain control of their lead in the AFC West as they took down the Los Angeles Chargers (4-7) on Monday Night Football, 24-17.   

Initially, the Chargers were able to jump in front, but couldn't take full advantage of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs slow start offensively. Despite Mahomes throwing for less than 70 yards in the first half, the Chargers dominating time of possession and recording more total yards of offense, Kansas City was able to head into the locker room at halftime up, 10-9. That was thanks to the Chargers inability to convert on two red zone opportunities and settled for four field goal attempts, while only hitting three. 

In the second half, Mahomes and company were able to get back on track offensively in spurts, but Los Angeles' defense gave their team plenty of opportunity in the fourth quarter to try and tie the game at 24. Rivers, however, couldn't mount a comeback as the offense punted twice and threw two interceptions in the fourth. That final possession did have Los Angeles deep in Kansas City territory for a shot at forcing overtime, but Rivers threw it into the arms of safety Daniel Sorensen to ice it for the Chiefs. 

He finished his night with 353 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions. For Mahomes, he tossed for just 182 yards, a touchdown and a pick, but also added 60 yards on the ground.  

The Chiefs beat the Chargers in Mexico City and Will Brinson, John Breech, Ryan Wilson and Sean Wagner-McGough are here to break it down, size up the biggest overachievers/underachievers and much more on the Pick Six Podcast. Listen below and be sure to subscribe here for daily NFL goodness fired into your eardrums.

Let's take a deeper dive into how the Chiefs survived the Chargers under the lights on Monday night:

Why the Chiefs won

If we're being completely honest, the Chiefs won mostly because the Chargers gave Monday's game away. We'll save the L.A. critiques for their section, but K.C. fans shouldn't be booking Super Bowl tickets just because of this win. It was not pretty. For a variety of reasons, reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes was mediocre for the first 30 or so minutes of action, posting an 8 of 15 first-half line featuring a career-low 63 yards and one interception. The defense also surrendered a lot of yardage, including some inexcusable chunks late in the fourth. How'd they pull it off, then? Well, for one, Mahomes' legs came in handy, with the QB leading the Chiefs on the ground (59 yards) on a night when both Damien Williams and LeSean McCoy exited with injuries, thrice rushing for a first on third down. For all the big plays they gave up, the Chiefs defense also made a few of their own, with Frank Clark showcasing his disruption and the secondary hauling in four crucial picks.

Why the Chargers lost

It wasn't because Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes were lighting it up. The Chargers, as per their norm, buried themselves. Philip Rivers and Co. had little trouble moving the ball, at least for the entirety of the first half, out-gaining the Chiefs in just about every major category -- except for in the red zone, where it mattered most. Rivers will obviously be the headliner of this latest Bolt disappointment, and that's fair, as he sandwiched a couple of true dimes in between far too many forced, careless or airless throws, most notably the game-ending end-zone pick lobbed as a jump ball for the 5-foot-10 Austin Ekeler. Rivers wasn't alone in dropping the ball, though. L.A.'s play-calling left a lot to be desired, particularly in key drives and in the red zone. And Desmond King on two occasions nearly gifted the Chiefs two more takeaways while "fielding" punts. Don't get it twisted; the Chargers were in it until the end, and their defense, fueled by Melvin Ingram (2 QB hits, 2 TFL, 1.0 sack), gave Anthony Lynn's squad tons of fourth-quarter opportunities. They just hurt themselves one too many times.

Turning point

The Chargers had the ball at the Chiefs' 25-yard line with 34 seconds left in the second quarter -- a prime scenario for a potential go-ahead score. But none other than two offensive-line penalties, including a holding on left tackle Trey Pipkins, the same man responsible for letting Clark envelop Rivers' arm on the QB's first "interception" of the night, pushed L.A. out of TD distance. The Chargers were then forced to rush and settle for a third straight field-goal drive, allowing the Chiefs to enter halftime with an inexplicable lead. L.A. threatened a comeback later, of course, but it dug its own hole early on.

Play of the game

Down seven with less than a minute to play, Rivers launched a desperate deep ball to Mike Williams on third-and-15, only to witness Williams go all the way up for an incredible 57-yard catch. It was Williams' second leaping grab of the evening, and while it unfortunately didn't pay off because of Rivers' fourth INT to end the drive, it put the Chargers in an incredible position to knot the game up and complete L.A.'s improbable comeback.

Quotable

"They played lights out really all game long. We put them in a lot of tough positions as an offense, and they pretty much just picked it up and saved us in this game. It's a team game, and it's good to see those guys win a game for us."

Mahomes delivered those remarks to ESPN's Lisa Salters after the game, and they couldn't be more true. Kansas City's big divisional win Monday night had little to do with the Chiefs' best players. That provides a bittersweet assessment: Reid's team still has a lot of work to do to re-solidify itself among the AFC's elite, and yet even on an off night for Mahomes, the club has proven it can come away with a "W."

What's next

The Chiefs (7-4) will rest up on their bye in Week 12 before returning on Sunday, Dec. 1, for another important divisional matchup -- this time with the Oakland Raiders (6-4), who are squarely in the playoff race and battling the Chiefs for a future first-place standing in the AFC West. The Chargers (4-7), meanwhile, will follow a similar path, taking Week 12 off before returning on the first of the month for a rivalry showdown with the Denver Broncos (3-7), who will host L.A. just under a month after upsetting the Chargers on the road.

Relive all the action from Monday night's divisional clash right here:

Live Blog

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[Nov 18, 2019 at 11:40 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

That's going to do it for our live coverage tonight. Thanks for following, we'll see you in Week 12!

[Nov 18, 2019 at 11:39 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Team effort tonight for the Chiefs. Offense wakes up in the second half and gets a pair of third quarter touchdowns. Mahomes knees the ball as this one is officially over. The Chiefs are now 7-4 and stay ahead of the Raiders for first place in the AFC West. Chargers are now 4-7 and likely out of the hunt for a playoff spot.

[Nov 18, 2019 at 11:38 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Rivers goes to Ekeler is and intercepted for the fourth time tonight. Just underthrew the pass as the Chiefs' red zone defense stop the Chargers again. Not a pretty win for the Chiefs but they will hang on for the win.

[Nov 18, 2019 at 11:37 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Ekeler is barely unable to get out of bounds on a screen pass by Rivers quickly spikes the ball. I'd go to Allen in this situation, given how good he's been in this game.

[Nov 18, 2019 at 11:36 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

As expected the refs rule it incomplete (again, I think the rule is inaccurate but I digress). Rivers looks like he's drawing up a play in the huddle here.

[Nov 18, 2019 at 11:35 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Wow, yeah. That's a fumble, IMO. He clearly dropped the ball. Good job by Gordon to pick it up.

[Nov 18, 2019 at 11:34 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

That looked like a fumble to me but not by the letter of the law. Slipped out of Rivers hand but his hand was going forward.

[Nov 19, 2019 at 4:33 am ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Pre-snap penalty on Chargers makes this a third and 15: Rivers going deep and hits Mike Williams. Williams wit his second incredible catch in this game.

[Nov 18, 2019 at 11:33 pm ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Mike Williams with a 57 yard reception and now the Chargers have hope.

[Nov 18, 2019 at 11:30 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Chargers get a first down but Chiefs making them earn it. At some point, you know Rivers is going to uncork a bomb downfield.

[Nov 18, 2019 at 11:26 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

https://twitter.com/BenVolin/s...

[Nov 18, 2019 at 11:25 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Chargers defense forcing another punt and didn't have to spend a timeout in the process. Chiefs running game let them down on that possession. KC's 131 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on 26 carries looks good until you consider that Mahomes has 60 of those yards on 4 carries.

[Nov 18, 2019 at 11:22 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

And how about that, Mahomes runs for yet another first down. That's his third big run in this game. Had 24 and 20 yard runs earlier in the game. That one looked like a designed run. Mahomes entered the game with 82 rushing yards. He has 60 in this game.

[Nov 18, 2019 at 11:19 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Chiefs running game isn't doing much now, so Mahomes may have to throw to move chains, unless he doesn't tuck it and run again.

[Nov 18, 2019 at 11:18 pm ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Rivers throws his third pick of the game, goes for broke on third and long. Not sure why he didn't try an intermediate pass. At least a positive is that it went the distance of a good punt. Chargers still have two time outs left.