Rivers leads Chargers to last-second comeback win over Chiefs

CHARGERS 29, CHIEFS 28

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Philip Rivers and the Chargers finally beat the Kansas City Chiefs.

All it took was feverish fourth-quarter comeback, a questionable pass-interference call, a tense video review of the final touchdown and the gutsy decision to try a 2-point conversion.

The result: Chargers 29, Chiefs 28.

Justin Jackson’s touchdown run with a couple minutes left gave the Chargers a chance. They quickly got the ball back from Patrick Mahomes and the NFL’s highest-scoring offense, and Rivers led a tense final drive that included a fourth-down dart to Travis Benjamin and that crucial penalty on Kendall Fuller in the back of the end zone.

The flag gave the Chargers the ball at the 1, and Rivers found Mike Williams along the sideline on the very next play. And when his TD catch with 8 seconds left was confirmed, coach Anthony Lynn sent his offense back onto the field to end five years’ worth of frustration.

Williams found himself alone in the end zone to secure the 2-point conversion.

Not only did the Chargers (11-3) clinch a playoff berth, they forged a first-place tie with the Chiefs (11-3) in the AFC West while ending a nine-game losing streak to their longtime division rivals.

Rivers threw for 313 yards and two touchdowns, though he also tossed a pair of interceptions, and Williams had seven catches for 76 yards and two scores while adding another on the ground.

Jackson ran for 58 yards and a touchdown in place of

the injured Melvin Gordon.

Mahomes was held to just 243 yards and two touchdowns for Kansas City, and his inability to pick up a first down in the closing minutes proved costly. The Chiefs forced the Chargers to burn two timeouts on their last drive, but Mahomes was sacked by Isaac Rochell and Kansas City had to punt.

The Chiefs never got the ball back on offense.

Hyped by the return of

star safety Eric Berry, it looked for a while as if the Chiefs would simply resume their vexation of Rivers at Arrowhead Stadium. Steven Nelson leaped to snag a jump ball for an interception on the second play of the game, and Rivers tossed another just before halftime.

Mahomes and Co. took advantage of their early momentum.

Kansas City breezed downfield after Nelson’s interception, and the young MVP candidate threw a dart to Demarcus Robinson — while in the grasp of Chargers

safety Adrian Phillips — for a 7-0 lead.

Then after a punt, Darrel Williams took a screen pass for his first career touchdown.

L.A. Chargers ............ 0 7 7 15 — 29

Kansas City ............. 14 0 7 7 — 28

First Quarter

KC—Robinson 5 pass from Mahomes (Butker kick), 9:09.

KC—Dar.Williams 11 pass from Mahomes (Butker kick), :43.

Second Quarter

LAC—M.Williams 3 pass from Rivers (Badgley kick), 9:43.

Third Quarter

KC—Dam.Williams 2 run (Butker kick), 11:38. LAC—M.Williams 19 run (Badgley kick), 4:57. Fourth Quarter

KC—Dam.Williams 1 run (Butker kick), 8:15. LAC—Jackson 3 run (Badgley kick), 3:49. LAC—M.Williams 1 pass from Rivers (M.Williams pass from Rivers), :04.

Attendance—75,091. LAC KC

First downs .................................. 30 22

Total Net Yards ............................ 407 294 Rushes-yards ........................... 24-119 17-60 Passing ....................................... 288 234

Punt Returns ............................... 1-0 0-0

Kickoff Returns .......................... 2-47 5-104 Interceptions Ret ......................... 0-0 2-0 Comp-Att-Int ............................ 26-38-2 24-34-0 Sacked-Yards Lost ..................... 5-25 2-9

Punts ........................................ 2-41.5 4-50.8 Fumbles-Lost .............................. 2-0 2-0 Penalties-Yards .......................... 7-50 10-66

Time of Possession ................... 33:16 26:44 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING—Los Angeles, Jackson 16-58, Newsome 6-34, M.Williams 1-19, T.Benjamin 1-8. Kansas City, Dam.Williams 10-49, Dar.Williams 2-13, Mahomes 2-3, Hill 3-(minus 5).

PASSING—Los Angeles, Rivers 26-38-2-313. Kansas City, Mahomes 24-34-0-243. RECEIVING—Los Angeles, M.Williams 7-76, T.Williams 6-71, Gates 4-54, Jackson 3-27, T.Benjamin 2-57, Newsome 2-19, Green 2-9. Kansas City, Kelce 7-61, Dam.Williams 6-74, Hill 4-46, Conley 2-19, Dar.Williams 2-19, Robinson 2-7, K.Benjamin 1-17. MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.