Los Angeles Chargers vs Kansas City Chiefs Match Player Stats (Dec 14, 2025)

Justin Herbert threw for 210 yards and one touchdown while managing a broken left hand in 13-degree temperatures. Derwin James tallied 10 tackles and intercepted Gardner Minshew with 20 seconds remaining. The Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 16-13 on December 14, 2025 at Arrowhead Stadium, completing their first season sweep since 2013 and eliminating the defending AFC champions from playoff contention.

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Game Scoreboard

Wind chills near zero created difficult conditions at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Los Angeles controlled possession by nearly 10 minutes while forcing two fourth-quarter interceptions. The Chargers improved their AFC West record to a perfect 5-0.

Quarterback Performance

Passing Statistics

Herbert completed 19 of 29 attempts despite the broken hand limiting his grip in freezing conditions. A 37-yard pass to Tre’ Harris ignited the comeback from a 13-3 deficit late in the first half, followed by a 16-yard touchdown to KeAndre Lambert-Smith that cut the gap to 13-10 just before halftime.

Protection separated the two quarterbacks. Los Angeles gave Herbert clean pockets while Kansas City’s pass rush collapsed repeatedly on Mahomes. The Chargers sacked him five times and hit him nine additional times, forcing Mahomes into quick decisions that produced shorter completions and fewer explosive plays.

Mahomes struggled before leaving with a torn ACL in his left knee with 1:53 remaining. According to the Chiefs’ official announcement, an MRI confirmed the tear and the team began exploring surgical options. Defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand spun him to the ground as he threw incomplete. The injury ended his night and his season.

Minshew entered for the final two minutes. He completed three consecutive passes and moved Kansas City near field goal range. James intercepted his throw intended for Travis Kelce at the Chargers 18-yard line with 20 seconds left.

Rushing by Quarterbacks

Mahomes scored Kansas City’s only touchdown on a 12-yard scramble during the opening drive for an early 7-0 lead. The three-time Super Bowl MVP used his scrambling ability to escape pressure before the injury ended his night. Herbert scrambled sparingly, converting one third down with a 19-yard run late in the fourth quarter that allowed Los Angeles to drain the clock.

Receiving Leaders

Los Angeles Pass Catchers

Gadsden’s four receptions totaled 61 yards. The tight end hauled in a 27-yard pass on third-and-six that moved the Chargers into field goal range for their go-ahead score in the third quarter. Harris provided the biggest play before halftime with a 37-yard grab down the left sideline.

Lambert-Smith scored his first NFL touchdown on Herbert’s 16-yard throw five seconds before halftime. He got inside position on his defender in the end zone and pulled down the back-shoulder ball. Los Angeles gained momentum entering halftime.

Allen caught five passes on seven targets, moving the chains on several third downs. He operated primarily in the intermediate zones, finding soft spots against Kansas City’s zone coverage.

Kansas City Pass Catchers

Kelce finished with seven receptions for 70 yards but never reached the end zone. He converted third-and-11 in the first quarter with a 17-yard reception. Rice drew 11 targets, the most on either team, hauling in seven for 51 yards on short and intermediate routes.

Thornton grabbed both of Kansas City’s 20-plus yard completions before leaving in the fourth quarter with a concussion. Tony Jefferson delivered a helmet-to-helmet hit that resulted in the safety’s ejection. The NFL later fined Jefferson $14,222 for the hit plus an additional $7,111 for an obscene gesture.

Ground Game Production

Running Back Statistics

Hampton ran 15 times for 61 yards, breaking off a 26-yard gain in the third quarter that stood as the longest rush by either team. He converted several third-and-short attempts with physical running between the tackles.

Los Angeles held Kansas City to 49 total rushing yards, the Chiefs’ lowest total of the 2025 season. The Chargers stuffed runs at the point of attack, putting Kansas City in obvious passing situations.

Team Rushing Totals

Los Angeles ran the ball 29 times compared to Kansas City’s 21 attempts. The Chargers sustained drives on the ground, leading to their 9:24 edge in time of possession. Los Angeles kept the Chiefs’ offense sidelined for long stretches, testing Kansas City’s defensive depth in the fourth quarter.

Defensive Leaders

Los Angeles Defense

Tuipulotu and Oweh each tallied two sacks. Their combined total reached 20.0 sacks on the season. According to the Chargers, Tuipulotu earned his first Pro Bowl nomination after reaching 13.0 sacks through 15 games, ranking him third in the NFL.

Oweh provided immediate impact after arriving via trade from Baltimore. Seven sacks with Los Angeles represent the most by any player acquired mid-season since Chicago’s Montez Sweat in 2023. Oweh combined with Tuipulotu and Khalil Mack to pressure Mahomes on 27 total dropbacks.

James tallied 10 tackles to pace the defense and made the game-clinching interception of Minshew in the closing seconds. The seven-time Pro Bowler had been exceptional all game, breaking up two passes and making plays across the field.

Henley’s fourth-quarter interception at the 1-yard line prevented Kansas City from tying or taking the lead. He stayed with Hunt on a wheel route and hauled in an acrobatic over-the-shoulder catch in the end zone.

Kansas City Defense

Tranquill finished with 14 tackles to lead all defenders. He stopped both run and pass plays, stuffing Hampton for no gain on a third-quarter third down. Bolton added 11 tackles alongside Tranquill in the middle of the defense.

Gillotte intercepted Herbert in the second quarter, picking off a jump ball intended for McConkey at the Chargers 33-yard line and returning it 14 yards. Kansas City kicked a field goal after the turnover. The Chiefs led 10-3.

Special Teams

Cameron Dicker connected on all three field goal attempts, including two from 49 yards in brutal conditions. Dicker’s second 49-yarder, drilled with 51 seconds remaining in the third quarter, gave Los Angeles its first lead at 16-13. Harrison Butker converted kicks from 27 and 47 yards for Kansas City but missed an extra point in the third quarter that kept the Chiefs trailing 13-12 instead of tying at 13-13.

KeAndre Lambert-Smith’s 34-yard kick return 33 seconds before halftime put the Chargers at their own 40-yard line. The return set up the touchdown drive that cut the deficit to three points before halftime.

The game turned on four plays that exposed the difference between a playoff-bound team and one heading home early.

Defining Moments

First Half, Final 33 Seconds

Down 13-3 with 33 seconds left before halftime, Los Angeles faced a critical moment. Kansas City had controlled most of the first 30 minutes.

Lambert-Smith’s kick return gave the Chargers starting position at their own 40-yard line. Herbert completed three passes in five plays to cover 60 yards. On third-and-three from the Kansas City 16, he rolled right under pressure and threw a back-shoulder pass to Lambert-Smith in the end zone. Lambert-Smith secured the ball with five seconds left, cutting the deficit to 13-10 and turning the game in Los Angeles’ favor.

Los Angeles entered the locker room trailing by just three points with possession to start the third quarter instead of facing a 10-point deficit.

Third Quarter, 0:51

Dicker’s go-ahead 49-yard field goal came after a methodical 12-play, 69-yard drive that consumed 7:21 of clock. The Chargers converted three third downs on the possession. Herbert hit Gadsden for nine yards on third-and-two. Los Angeles took their first lead at 16-13 as the defense shut down Kansas City’s offense.

Fourth Quarter, 12:47

Kansas City drove to the Chargers 17-yard line trailing by three points. On third-and-12, Mahomes targeted Hunt on a wheel route down the right sideline. The pass traveled toward a potential touchdown or at minimum a first down inside the five-yard line.

Henley matched Hunt down the field, tracked the ball over his shoulder, and intercepted it at the 1-yard line. Kansas City gained nothing instead of either tying the game with a field goal or taking the lead with a touchdown.

Fourth Quarter, 0:20

With Kansas City at the Chargers 34-yard line and 20 seconds remaining, Minshew had one chance to get into field goal range or find the end zone. On second-and-15, he targeted Kelce on a corner route.

James, matched up against the future Hall of Fame tight end, jumped the route. He boxed out Kelce and intercepted the pass at the 18-yard line. The turnover ended both the game and Kansas City’s season.

Division Sweep and Season Context

Los Angeles completed their first season sweep of Kansas City since 2013, Andy Reid’s first year with the Chiefs. The Chargers also defeated Kansas City 27-21 in Week 1 at São Paulo, Brazil, with Herbert throwing three touchdowns in that opening contest. The two victories represent a power shift in the AFC West. Los Angeles improved to a perfect 5-0 in division play while Kansas City fell to 6-8 overall.

Jim Harbaugh’s first season in Los Angeles exceeded expectations. The Chargers secured their second consecutive 10-win season for the first time since 2006-07 under Marty Schottenheimer. They won six of their last seven games, defeating both Super Bowl participants from the previous season.

Playoff Picture and Season Outlook

The victory improved Los Angeles to 10-4 and strengthened their hold on the AFC’s fifth seed. According to the Chargers, their playoff probability jumped to 96% after the win. Los Angeles can clinch a postseason berth with a victory over Dallas in Week 16. They could also clinch with losses by Indianapolis and Cincinnati.

The Chargers sit one game behind Denver (12-3) for the AFC West title. They face the Broncos in Week 18 in a game that could decide the division.

For Kansas City, elimination marked their first playoff absence since 2014. The Chiefs had reached the AFC Championship Game in six consecutive seasons. They won three Super Bowl titles during that span. Their 6-8 record represents a stunning decline for a franchise that entered the season as favorites.

The injury to Mahomes compounded Kansas City’s problems. He underwent surgery on December 16, 2025, two days after the injury occurred.

Statistical Context

Los Angeles held Kansas City to 239 total yards, matching the Chiefs’ lowest output since Week 9 of the 2021 season. Kansas City averaged 4.1 yards per play against their season average of 5.8.

Five sacks and nine quarterback hits disrupted Mahomes’ timing. He completed just two passes of 20-plus yards, both to Thornton before his fourth-quarter exit.

Red zone failures cost Kansas City the game. Los Angeles scored a touchdown on one of two trips inside the 20. Kansas City settled for field goals twice and threw Henley’s interception on their third red zone opportunity, leaving seven potential points on the field in a three-point loss.

Pro Football Reference’s box score shows Kansas City posted an offensive EPA of negative 3.00 while Los Angeles finished at positive 3.00, matching the actual three-point margin.

The Chargers allowed fewer than 20 points in three consecutive games while forcing eight turnovers in those contests. Jesse Minter’s scheme confused opposing quarterbacks with disguised coverages and creative blitzes.

Herbert’s health remains a concern for Los Angeles going forward. The broken hand has limited his practice time and affected his grip on the football, particularly in cold conditions. The Chargers hope additional rest before facing Dallas allows further healing.

The victory completed a season sweep that shifted the balance of power in the AFC West. Los Angeles advanced to 10-4 behind dominant defensive play and timely offensive execution while Kansas City’s decade-long playoff streak came to an end.