Kelce scores 3 touchdowns, Chiefs rally past Chargers 30-27
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce ended up putting on a performance that made The Fonz proud.
Mahomes connected with Kelce for three touchdowns - including the go-ahead score with 31 seconds remaining - as the Kansas City Chiefs rallied past the Los Angeles Chargers 30-27 on Sunday night to stay atop the AFC.
Mahomes met Emmy Award-winning actor Henry Winkler before the game. Winkler, who played Fonzie for 12 seasons on the iconic television show ''Happy Days'', received a signed jersey on the sideline. Kelce got in the act by wearing a t-shirt before the game that had a picture of The Fonz and said ''Football. Family. Fonzie''.
When Mahomes and the Chiefs got the ball at the KC 25-yard line with 1:46 remaining, he had his usual cool and calm presence.
''When I went in the huddle, it was let's just do it. Everyone had the mindset of take it one play at a time and get it when it counts,'' said Mahomes, completed 20 of 34 passes for 329 yards.
After the Chargers had pulled ahead 27-23 on Justin Herbert's 6-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Palmer with 1:46 left, Mahomes directed a six-play, 75-yard drive that took just 1:15.
It was the 11th time in the regular-season that Mahomes had a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter.
Despite missing two receivers due to injuries, he completed 3 of 4 for 48 yards on the drive and scrambled twice for an additional 22.
The Chiefs also benefitted from a third-down holding call on Chargers' safety Derwin James after an incomplete pass.
After a 16-yard run by Mahomes and Kansas City timeout, Mahomes hit Kelce on a short crossing route that Kelce took to the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown,
''We didn't have our full arsenal of weapons. I was ready for the matchup,'' said Kelce, who had six catches for 115 yards. ''I knew they were going to play man-to-man and Patrick was going to look for me when it was 1-on-1. I was able to finish the game off on a positive note.''
Herbert and the Chargers had one final chance, but Nick Bolton intercepted a deflected pass to seal it for the Chiefs (8-2), who swept the season series from Los Angeles (5-5) and took a three-game lead in the AFC West.
It is the third straight year the Chargers have had a late lead at home against the Chiefs and were unable to finish.
''You should be frustrated. To not beat those guys is disappointing because we felt like our level was good enough to win, but we didn't finish plays in that fourth quarter to get it done,'' Chargers coach Brandon Staley said after Los Angeles lost its second straight to fall to 5-5.
With a one-game lead over four teams in the conference, Kansas City is in position to claim home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Kelce scored at least three touchdowns for the second time in his career. He scored four in a Monday night win over the Raiders on Oct. 10.
Chiefs rookie Isiah Pacheco rushed for a career-high 107 yards.
''Patrick and Travis calm everything down on both sides of the ball. The good players really stepped up when we needed it,'' coach Andy Reid said. ''I'm proud of our guys for stepping up offensively and defensively. That's big-time football at the right time.
Herbert went 23 of 30 for 280 yards and two touchdowns, both to Palmer, who had eight receptions for 106 yards. It was easily the Chargers' best offensive performance in nearly a month as the unit was bolstered by the return of receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
Allen, playing only his third game due to a nagging hamstring injury, had five receptions for 94 yards, including a 46-yard catch up the right sideline on the go-ahead drive to put the ball on the Chiefs 16-yard line.
''Mike (Williams) is about as tough as it gets, and Keenan (Allen), too. They're special competitors, so any time that you get those guys out on the field, something good is going to happen. But, unfortunately, it didn't go our way today,'' Herbert said.
Austin Ekeler had 100 yards (83 rushing, 17 receiving) and a touchdown.
KELCE'S RECORD NIGHT
It was Kelce's 34th game with at least 100 yards receiving, surpassing Rob Gronkowski for the most by a tight end in NFL history. Eight of his 11 TDs this season have come in prime-time games.
Kelce gave Kansas City a 13-10 lead early in the second quarter on a 4-yard screen pass where he imitated Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders' high-skipping dance on his way to the end zone.
Kelce's 32-yard touchdown on the opening play of the fourth quarter put the Chiefs on top 23-20. Kelce caught the ball at the LA 26 after Asante Samuel Jr. made a diving attempt, broke a tackle by Nasir Adderley at the 16 and went up the right sideline for the score.
QUICK START
After Harrison Butker's 33-yard field goal on the opening possession gave the Chiefs a 3-0 lead, the Charges promptly answered on their first drive in three plays. Palmer beat Juan Thornhill in single coverage and Herbert found him for a 50-yard touchdown.
It was the first time in 20 regular-season games that Kansas City had allowed a touchdown on an opening drive.
INJURIES
Chiefs: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter, Thornhill had a calf injury in the second quarter and WR Kadarius Toney strained a hamstring in the third quarter. None returned to the game.
Chargers: Williams' return was short-lived. He reinjured his ankle after a 15-yard reception in the first quarter. ... LB Kenneth Murray came out in the third quarter with a neck injury. ... S Nasir Adderley had a thumb injury in the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT
Chiefs: Host the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday.
Chargers: Return to the road to face the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday.
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Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
P. Mahomes
15 QB
33 FPTS
|
P. Mahomes | 20/34 | 329 | 3 | 0 | 33 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
I. Pacheco
10 RB
10 FPTS
|
I. Pacheco | 15 | 107 | 0 | 28 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. McKinnon
1 RB
1 FPTS
|
J. McKinnon | 6 | 24 | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. Mahomes
15 QB
33 FPTS
|
P. Mahomes | 4 | 23 | 0 | 16 | 33 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Edwards-Helaire
25 RB
0 FPTS
|
C. Edwards-Helaire | 2 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
T. Kelce
87 TE
35 FPTS
|
T. Kelce | 10 | 6 | 115 | 3 | 34 | 35 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Watson
84 WR
9 FPTS
|
J. Watson | 4 | 3 | 67 | 0 | 29 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Moore
24 WR
11 FPTS
|
S. Moore | 6 | 5 | 63 | 0 | 18 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Fortson
88 TE
7 FPTS
|
J. Fortson | 2 | 2 | 51 | 0 | 40 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Valdes-Scantling
11 WR
2 FPTS
|
M. Valdes-Scantling | 4 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
N. Gray
83 TE
3 FPTS
|
N. Gray | 3 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 12 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Toney
WR
0 FPTS
|
K. Toney | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. McKinnon
1 RB
1 FPTS
|
J. McKinnon | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
N. Bolton
32 MLB
|
N. Bolton | 10-4 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. Gay Jr.
50 LB
|
W. Gay Jr. | 7-4 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Jones
95 DT
|
C. Jones | 5-0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Williams
23 CB
|
J. Williams | 5-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Sneed
38 CB
|
L. Sneed | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Reid
20 SS
|
J. Reid | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Cook
6 SAF
|
B. Cook | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. McDuffie
21 CB
|
T. McDuffie | 3-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Danna
51 DE
|
M. Danna | 3-1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Watson
35 CB
|
J. Watson | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
F. Clark
55 DE
|
F. Clark | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Dunlap
8 DE
|
C. Dunlap | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Johnson
13 CB
|
N. Johnson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Saunders
99 DT
|
K. Saunders | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Thornhill
22 FS
|
J. Thornhill | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Chenal
54 OLB
|
L. Chenal | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Cochrane
43 LB
|
J. Cochrane | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
H. Butker
7 K
12 FPTS
|
H. Butker | 3/3 | 52 | 3/3 | 12 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
T. Townsend
5 P
|
T. Townsend | 2 | 46.0 | 0 | 50 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
I. Pacheco
10 RB
10 FPTS
|
I. Pacheco | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Burton
45 FB
0 FPTS
|
M. Burton | 1 | 20.0 | 20 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
J. Herbert
10 QB
23 FPTS
|
J. Herbert | 23/30 | 280 | 2 | 1 | 23 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
A. Ekeler
30 RB
17 FPTS
|
A. Ekeler | 19 | 83 | 1 | 9 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Herbert
10 QB
23 FPTS
|
J. Herbert | 5 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||
I. Spiller
28 RB
4 FPTS
|
I. Spiller | 4 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Horvath
40 RB
0 FPTS
|
Z. Horvath | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Michel
20 RB
0 FPTS
|
S. Michel | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
J. Palmer
5 WR
30 FPTS
|
J. Palmer | 10 | 8 | 106 | 2 | 50 | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Allen
13 WR
12 FPTS
|
K. Allen | 8 | 5 | 94 | 0 | 46 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Carter
1 WR
6 FPTS
|
D. Carter | 3 | 3 | 33 | 0 | 20 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Ekeler
30 RB
17 FPTS
|
A. Ekeler | 2 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 11 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Williams
81 WR
2 FPTS
|
M. Williams | 1 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
I. Spiller
28 RB
4 FPTS
|
I. Spiller | 2 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Smartt
48 TE
1 FPTS
|
S. Smartt | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Bandy
83 WR
0 FPTS
|
M. Bandy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Herbert
10 QB
23 FPTS
|
J. Herbert | 1 | 1 | -2 | 0 | -2 | 23 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
D. Tranquill
49 ILB
|
D. Tranquill | 6-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Callahan
23 CB
|
B. Callahan | 6-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. James
3 SS
|
D. James | 4-3 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Samuel Jr.
26 CB
|
A. Samuel Jr. | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Fox
56 DE
|
M. Fox | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Reeder
42 LB
|
T. Reeder | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Davis
43 CB
|
M. Davis | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Gaziano
92 DE
|
J. Gaziano | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Fehoko
96 DT
|
B. Fehoko | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Tuszka
59 LB
|
D. Tuszka | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Adderley
24 FS
|
N. Adderley | 2-4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Taylor
36 CB
|
J. Taylor | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Gilman
32 FS
|
A. Gilman | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Woods
22 SAF
|
J. Woods | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Joseph-Day
69 DT
|
S. Joseph-Day | 1-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Mack
52 OLB
|
K. Mack | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Rumph II
94 LB
|
C. Rumph II | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Niemann
31 LB
|
N. Niemann | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Van Noy
8 OLB
|
K. Van Noy | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
C. Dicker
15 K
9 FPTS
|
C. Dicker | 2/2 | 46 | 3/3 | 9 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
J. Scott
16 P
|
J. Scott | 3 | 49.0 | 1 | 52 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
D. Carter
1 WR
6 FPTS
|
D. Carter | 2 | 27.0 | 33 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |