Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston gets hit by a Kansas City Chiefs defender in the teams’ season opener Sept. 5, 2025, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images)
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert throws a pass during the first half of their game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen catches a pass in front of Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie during the first half of their season opener in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The teams square off again on Sunday in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Doug Benc)
Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley (0) intercepts a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Chargers safety Tony Jefferson (23) is held by teammates Derwin James Jr., left, and Daiyan Henley (0) after being ejected during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Chargers safety Tony Jefferson (23) heads off the field after being ejected during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid watches from the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chargers Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) scrambles as Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal, left, and defensive end Charles Omenihu (90) defend during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (8) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton (32) and linebacker Drue Tranquill during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Chargers running back Kimani Vidal (30) runs with the ball past Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis (56) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) runs for the end zone to score during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chargers Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) scrambles during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chargers Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
A Kansas City Chiefs fan is bundled up for the cold weather before an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Chargers Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Nikko Remigio warms up before an NFL football game against the Chargers Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh watches his team during warmups before an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
1 of 16
Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston gets hit by a Kansas City Chiefs defender in the teams’ season opener Sept. 5, 2025, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images)
Expand
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Derwin James Jr.’s interception of Kansas City Chiefs backup quarterback Gardner Minshew with 14 seconds remaining clinched the Chargers’ 16-13 victory Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, moving them one step closer to their second consecutive playoff berth.
The Chargers are 10-4 with three regular-season games to play.
The Chiefs are 6-8, and all but eliminated from the postseason.
The Chargers swept both games from Kansas City and improved to 5-0 against the AFC West.
The Chargers took their first lead, 16-13, on Cameron Dicker’s 49-yard field goal with 51 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Dicker also kicked field goals of 49 and 23 yards and Justin Herbert threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith in the first three quarters.
Kansas City, desperate for a victory to keep its faint playoff hopes alive, managed only two field goals after Patrick Mahomes scored on a 12-yard scramble on the Chiefs’ opening possession and faced possible elimination entering the fourth quarter. A promising drive in the fourth ended with an interception.
Chargers safety Tony Jefferson was ejected after a hit that injured Chiefs receiver Tyquan Thornton, who had hauled in a pass from Mahomes for a 21-yard gain. Jefferson was initially penalized for unnecessary roughness and, after an altercation with several Chiefs, ejected.
Thornton entered the NFL’s concussion protocol after the hit.
Three plays later, Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley intercepted Mahomes’ errant pass near the goal line, ending the Chiefs’ threat with 12:37 remaining in the game. Given a chance to put the game out of reach, the Chargers drove only as far as the Chiefs’ 44 before punting.
Mahomes suffered an apparent knee injury and left the game with 1:53 remaining. Da’Shawn Hand tripped him up on a scramble play in front of the Chiefs’ bench and Mahomes went down awkwardly. He walked gingerly to the sideline and was checked by athletic trainers.
