Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Monday in Mexico
ABOVE Kansas City Chiefs running back LeSean McCoy scores as Casey Hayward Jr. of the Los Angeles Chargers defends during the first half Monday in Mexico City. The Chiefs won 24-17. LEFT Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (left) can’t make the catch as Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward defends during the second half.
MEXICO CITY — Daniel Sorensen picked off Philip Rivers’ fourth interception at the goal line with 18 seconds to play, and the Kansas City Chiefs stayed on top of the AFC West with a 24-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night at Azteca Stadium.
Patrick Mahomes passed for 182 yards and hit Travis Kelce for his only touchdown, while LeSean McCoy and Darrel Williams rushed for touchdowns as the Chiefs (7-4) hung on to win the fourth regular-season NFL game played in Mexico despite a few problems with Azteca’s grass field and a one-sided first half favoring the Chargers (4-7), who racked up 312 yards without a touchdown.
After throwing his second interception of the season in the first half, Mahomes led two sharp scoring drives in the third quarter with help from Kelce, who caught seven passes for 92 yards. The Chiefs held Los Angeles to eight points in the second half, and Sorensen grabbed Rivers’ underthrown pass to Austin Ekeler at the goal line to secure the Chiefs’ 10th win over Los Angeles in 11 meetings.
Rivers passed for 353 yards during his first four-interception game since November 2016 for the Chargers, whose playoff hopes are nearly dead after five losses in seven games. Keenan Allen caught his first TD pass since Week 3 in the third quarter, but the Chargers had three inept drives in the scoreless fourth quarter.
On the Bolts’ last gasp, Mike Williams made a spectacular 50-yard catch with 44 seconds to play. Los Angeles reached the Kansas City 14 before Rivers’ final mistake.
Rivers, month, last called Stadium these elevation grass, One two of teams which off game has year games. poor who on and a thrown in short played game in field yielded after turns on the the the conditions, notice at Chargers’ 7,200-foot seven an the 38 Azteca several Azteca entertaining next NFL because interceptions significant stops scheduled season, the The turf or Rams but changes field divots to severe and compelled play of Chiefs from damage direction. here sharp were last the to NFL Los Angeles to relocate on six the days’ game notice. to
turf this Azteca and year, installed removed and the natural field its hybrid grass had been América’s untouched last home since soccer Club game Nov. 2. The grounds crew came onto the field at halftime and during timeouts in the second half to attend to the worst spots.