Kansas City then answered with a 50-yard field goal by Wright on the Chiefs’ ensuing drive that reclaimed the lead, but the Chargers responded right back with a go-ahead, 37-yard field goal of their own a series later.
It was nearly worse, however, as Los Angeles drove all the way to the Chiefs’ 17-yard line before defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton sacked Chargers’ quarterback Justin Herbert for a loss of seven yards on second down. The sack essentially stalled the Chargers’ drive and forced a field goal attempt two snaps later, and while the kick briefly put Los Angeles back in front, it also meant that Mahomes and company only needed a field goal to win the game.
Kansas City started its final drive at the 40-yard line after a kickoff infraction by the Chargers, and 14 snaps and three third-down conversions later, Wright secured the victory for the Chiefs.
Mahomes converted a 3rd-and-10 early in the series with a 14-yard pass to wide receiver Xavier Worthy and later found tight end Travis Kelce for another critical third-down conversion deep in Chargers’ territory. The latter throw, which took place on 3rd-and-7 and picked up nine yards, meant that Kansas City could kick the go-ahead field goal as time expired rather than providing Los Angeles with a chance to answer.
“[The Chargers] did a good job of covering [the third-down play], and then Trav just played ball and got himself open,” Mahomes said. “We were able to find a way to get that throw to Trav there and get the first down.”
