The Kansas City Chiefs edged past the Los Angeles Chargers 19-17 in a Sunday Night Football thriller at Arrowhead Stadium on December 8, 2024. Patrick Mahomes threw for 210 yards and one touchdown, while Justin Herbert countered with 213 yards and a TD in a defensive slugfest. The los angeles chargers vs kansas city chiefs match player stats reveal a game decided by inches, with Matthew Wright’s 31-yard field goal clanging off the upright as time expired to seal Kansas City’s ninth consecutive AFC West title.
Table of contents
- Quarterback Showdown: The Numbers Tell the Story
- Ground Game Breakdown
- Receiving Corps Performance
- Defensive Dominance
- Special Teams Excellence
- Game Flow and Momentum Shifts
- Coaching Battle: Reid vs Harbaugh
- Injury Report Impact
- Advanced Metrics and Key Stats
- Playoff and Divisional Implications
- Historical Context
- Looking Ahead
- The Final Analysis
Quarterback Showdown: The Numbers Tell the Story
Passing Statistics Comparison
| Quarterback | Completions/Attempts | Passing Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions | Sacks | Passer Rating | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Herbert (LAC) | 21/30 | 213 | 1 | 0 | 3-19 | 101.1 | 65.0 |
| Patrick Mahomes (KC) | 24/37 | 210 | 1 | 0 | 3-8 | 88.8 | 54.7 |
Herbert actually outperformed Mahomes statistically in this matchup. The Chargers quarterback completed 70% of his passes and posted a higher passer rating, but the difference came down to execution when it mattered most. Mahomes engineered the game-winning drive in the final minutes, showcasing why he’s earned three Super Bowl rings.
“We just had to settle in,” Herbert said postgame. “We didn’t make enough plays in the first half and we didn’t execute the way we wanted to. Pass game, run game, we weren’t moving the ball well. That’s on us and I praise the guys for staying in there, staying patient and making plays in the second half.”
The game marked another chapter in Mahomes’ struggles with pressure this season. He absorbed three sacks and has now been taken down 13 times over his past three games, the most in any three-game stretch of his career. Yet somehow, Kansas City still found a way to win.
Ground Game Breakdown
Rushing Attack Statistics
| Player | Team | Carries | Yards | Average | Touchdowns | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isiah Pacheco | KC | 14 | 55 | 3.9 | 0 | 9 |
| Gus Edwards | LAC | 10 | 36 | 3.6 | 1 | 10 |
| Kimani Vidal | LAC | 8 | 34 | 4.3 | 0 | 8 |
| Kareem Hunt | KC | 5 | 16 | 3.2 | 0 | 7 |
| Patrick Mahomes | KC | 4 | 17 | 4.3 | 0 | 10 |
| Justin Herbert | LAC | 4 | 12 | 3.0 | 0 | 7 |
Team Rushing Totals:
- Kansas City Chiefs: 25 carries, 96 yards, 3.8 average
- Los Angeles Chargers: 24 carries, 94 yards, 3.9 average
Neither team found much success establishing the run, which turned this into a quarterback chess match. Gus Edwards punched in the Chargers’ first touchdown from three yards out early in the third quarter, capping a 13-play, 79-yard drive that signaled Los Angeles had woken up after a scoreless first half.
Receiving Corps Performance
Top Receiving Statistics
Los Angeles Chargers:
| Receiver | Receptions | Targets | Yards | Average | Touchdowns | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua Palmer | 6 | 9 | 78 | 13.0 | 0 | 38 |
| Stone Smartt | 3 | 3 | 54 | 18.0 | 0 | 24 |
| Quentin Johnston | 5 | 7 | 48 | 9.6 | 1 | 21 |
| Will Dissly | 2 | 2 | 19 | 9.5 | 0 | 15 |
Kansas City Chiefs:
| Receiver | Receptions | Targets | Yards | Average | Touchdowns | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Kelce | 5 | 6 | 45 | 9.0 | 0 | 13 |
| Xavier Worthy | 5 | 6 | 41 | 8.2 | 0 | 14 |
| DeAndre Hopkins | 4 | 9 | 32 | 8.0 | 1 | 10 |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | 2 | 2 | 31 | 15.5 | 0 | 26 |
| Noah Gray | 4 | 5 | 26 | 6.5 | 0 | 8 |
Joshua Palmer emerged as Herbert’s favorite target, hauling in six catches for 78 yards. The highlight came on a 38-yard completion that showcased the connection developing between the two as the season progressed. For Kansas City, Travis Kelce proved clutch once again. His five receptions for 45 yards pushed his career total to 12,010 yards, making him the fastest tight end in NFL history to reach 12,000 receiving yards.
Quentin Johnston broke through for the Chargers with their first passing touchdown in 13 quarters. After the Chargers drew a 39-yard pass interference penalty on Justin Reid, Herbert found Johnston for a four-yard score that gave Los Angeles a 14-13 lead in the third quarter. The touchdown was Johnston’s seventh of the season.
DeAndre Hopkins provided Kansas City’s lone offensive touchdown, catching a nine-yard pass from Mahomes with 47 seconds remaining in the first half. The veteran receiver finished with four catches on nine targets, continuing his solid production since arriving via trade.
Defensive Dominance
Defensive Leaders
Los Angeles Chargers Defense:
| Player | Total Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | Pass Deflections | QB Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daiyan Henley | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Tarheeb Still | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Troy Dye | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Elijah Molden | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Khalil Mack | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Tuli Tuipulotu | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Joey Bosa | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Derwin James Jr. | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Kansas City Chiefs Defense:
| Player | Total Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | Pass Deflections | QB Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamarri Conner | 9 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Drue Tranquill | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Bolton | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Joshua Williams | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Leo Chenal | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tershawn Wharton | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Trent McDuffie | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Chris Jones | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
The Chargers defense brought consistent pressure all night, recording three sacks and 13 quarterback hits. Khalil Mack led the pass rush with four QB hits and half a sack, while Derwin James contributed one sack and consistently disrupted the Chiefs’ timing.
Chamarri Conner led all defenders with nine tackles for Kansas City. The defensive battle came down to critical moments, including Nick Bolton’s devastating hit on Herbert late in the second quarter that forced the Chargers quarterback to miss one play. Tershawn Wharton set a career high with two sacks, bringing down Herbert twice while recording three QB hits.
Neither team forced a turnover, which kept the game tight throughout. The Chiefs recorded six tackles for loss compared to the Chargers’ one, showing Kansas City’s ability to blow up plays behind the line of scrimmage.
Special Teams Excellence
Kicking Performance
| Kicker | Team | Field Goals | Extra Points | Longest FG | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Wright | KC | 4/4 | 1/1 | 50 | 13 |
| Cameron Dicker | LAC | 1/1 | 2/2 | 37 | 5 |
Matthew Wright became the hero Kansas City didn’t know they needed. The third-string kicker connected on all four field goal attempts, including the game-winner from 31 yards that bounced off the left upright and through as time expired. Wright drilled attempts from 47, 33, 50, and 31 yards, accounting for 13 of Kansas City’s 19 points.
The Chiefs became the first team in NFL history to have three different kickers make game-winning field goals as time expired in a single season. This was Kansas City’s 15th consecutive victory in a one-score game over the past two seasons, extending their remarkable streak of finding ways to win close contests.
Punting and Returns
Punting Stats:
| Punter | Team | Punts | Average | Long | Inside 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Araiza | KC | 4 | 51.8 | 59 | 2 |
| JK Scott | LAC | 5 | 42.6 | 58 | 3 |
Return Game:
Derius Davis handled all return duties for Los Angeles, bringing back four kickoffs for 106 yards (26.5 average) and one punt return for zero yards. For Kansas City, Nikko Remigio averaged 11.3 yards per punt return on three attempts, with his longest going for 21 yards.
Game Flow and Momentum Shifts
Scoring Summary
First Quarter:
- KC: Matthew Wright 47-yard FG (KC 3-0)
Second Quarter:
- KC: Matthew Wright 33-yard FG (KC 6-0)
- KC: DeAndre Hopkins 9-yard TD reception from Patrick Mahomes, Wright XP (KC 13-0)
Third Quarter:
- LAC: Gus Edwards 3-yard TD run, Dicker XP (KC 13-7)
- LAC: Quentin Johnston 4-yard TD reception from Justin Herbert, Dicker XP (LAC 14-13)
- KC: Matthew Wright 50-yard FG (KC 16-14)
Fourth Quarter:
- LAC: Cameron Dicker 37-yard FG (LAC 17-16)
- KC: Matthew Wright 31-yard FG (KC 19-17)
The first half belonged entirely to Kansas City. The Chiefs defense suffocated the Chargers offense, holding them scoreless through 30 minutes of play. It marked the first time all season Kansas City shut out an opponent in the first half. Herbert and company managed just 127 total yards before halftime, punting five times while the Chiefs built a comfortable 13-0 cushion.
Everything changed in the second half. The Chargers came out with renewed energy, marching 79 yards on 13 plays to cut the deficit to 13-7. Following a Chiefs punt, Los Angeles struck again. A massive 39-yard pass interference penalty on Justin Reid set up Johnston’s four-yard touchdown catch, giving the Chargers their first lead at 14-13.
Kansas City responded immediately with Wright’s 50-yard field goal after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Trey Smith pushed them back. The back-and-forth continued with Dicker’s 37-yarder giving Los Angeles a 17-16 advantage with just over eight minutes remaining.
That set the stage for Mahomes magic. The Chiefs quarterback led a methodical 4.5-minute drive, mixing short passes with timely scrambles. He hit Xavier Worthy for 14 yards on third-and-10, then scrambled for another first down. Perhaps his biggest play came after the two-minute warning when he evaded would-be tacklers and found Travis Kelce sitting in the middle of the field, allowing Kansas City to run out the clock.
“I went through my reads,” Mahomes explained. “As I was ready to run, I just saw 87 just sitting right there in the middle of the field, open. So I fired it to him.”
On Kelce, Mahomes added: “He means the world to me. Without getting like emotional, he’s a guy that has really kind of made me who I am in my career. He’s a true leader on the football field. He’s someone that I can just go to at any moment, and he’s going to make a big play happen, and as he’s done throughout his career.”
Coaching Battle: Reid vs Harbaugh
Andy Reid improved to 12-1 on the season, clinching his ninth consecutive AFC West title. The veteran coach showed trust in his third-string kicker rather than pushing for a touchdown that would’ve left time on the clock.
“I trusted Matthew, so I was good with where we were,” Reid said. “Percentages are pretty high. I know we won a game in that same situation on the opposite end, so I get it, but he’s a solid gamer, so I wasn’t too worried about it.”
Jim Harbaugh nearly pulled off the upset in his first season with the Chargers. His defensive game plan harassed Mahomes into one of his worst performances by passer rating (88.8), and the Chargers showed tremendous fight after being blanked in the first half. Despite the loss, Los Angeles proved they belonged in the same conversation as Kansas City when it came to AFC contenders.
The matchup showcased two of the game’s premier coaches. While Reid continues building his dynasty with Kansas City, Harbaugh has quickly transformed the Chargers into a physical, fundamentally sound team that mirrors his successful approach at Michigan.
Injury Report Impact
The game took a physical toll on both teams. For Los Angeles, tight end Will Dissly exited in the third quarter with a right shoulder injury. Wide receiver Jalen Reagor also left the game in the third quarter. Herbert briefly left after Nick Bolton’s hit late in the second quarter, with backup Taylor Heinicke taking one snap before Herbert returned.
On the Kansas City side, offensive tackle DJ Humphries departed in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury. The injuries added another layer of difficulty to an already tight contest.
Advanced Metrics and Key Stats
Third Down Efficiency:
- Kansas City: Not specified in box score
- Los Angeles: Struggled significantly in first half
Time of Possession:
- Game lasted 2 hours, 59 minutes
- Both teams ran similar amounts of plays
Red Zone Performance:
- Kansas City: 1/2 (50%)
- Los Angeles: 2/2 (100%)
Turnovers:
- Kansas City: 0
- Los Angeles: 0
The turnover battle proved neutral, which kept the game within reach for both teams throughout. Los Angeles actually won the red zone efficiency battle, converting both opportunities into touchdowns compared to Kansas City’s field goal on their opening drive.
Playoff and Divisional Implications
This victory secured the Chiefs’ ninth consecutive AFC West crown, extending their remarkable run of divisional dominance. Kansas City improved to 12-1, virtually locking up the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
For the Chargers, the loss dropped them to 8-5 but they remained firmly in playoff contention. Under Harbaugh’s leadership, Los Angeles had already matched their win total from the previous season and showed they could compete with the conference’s elite. The narrow defeat proved the Chargers belonged in discussions about legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Kansas City extended their winning streak over Los Angeles to six games, improving to 6-0 against the Chargers in their last six meetings. Over those six matchups, the Chiefs outscored the Chargers 118-90, though this game proved to be the closest margin yet.
Historical Context
The matchup added another chapter to the Chiefs’ incredible run of close game victories. Kansas City improved to 10-0 in one-score games during the 2024 season, showcasing an uncanny ability to win games regardless of how they played for the majority of the contest.
Mahomes passed Dan Marino for the most passing yards through the first eight years of a career during the opening drive, adding another milestone to his already legendary resume. The quarterback has now led his team to 12 wins in the first 13 games, putting the Chiefs on pace to potentially secure the first overall seed.
For Herbert, the loss stung but his second-half performance showed significant growth. The fifth-year quarterback has thrown for 2,551 yards with 13 touchdowns and just one interception through 12 games, posting career-best efficiency numbers under Harbaugh’s guidance.
Looking Ahead
The Chiefs headed to Cleveland for their next matchup, looking to maintain their grip on the AFC’s top spot. Kansas City’s ability to win close games would be tested repeatedly down the stretch, but this victory proved they had the mental toughness to prevail in nail-biters.
The Chargers returned home to face Tampa Bay, seeking to bounce back from the heartbreaking defeat. Despite the loss, Los Angeles showed they could compete with anyone in the league. Their defensive performance, particularly in the second half, demonstrated the physical brand of football Harbaugh has instilled in just one season.
The Final Analysis
The los angeles chargers vs kansas city chiefs match player stats tell the story of a game decided by the finest of margins. While the offensive numbers were relatively even, Kansas City’s ability to execute in crunch time made all the difference. Matthew Wright’s four field goals, including the game-winner off the upright, proved that championship teams find ways to win even when they’re not playing their best football.
Herbert and the Chargers offense struggled mightily in the first half, managing just 127 yards and zero points. Their second-half awakening, however, nearly stole victory at Arrowhead. The 14 unanswered points and the ability to take a lead late in the fourth quarter showed that Harbaugh’s squad wasn’t intimidated by the dynasty across the field.
For more detailed player statistics and game analysis throughout the season, visit Match vs Player Stats for comprehensive coverage of every NFL matchup.
The quarterback duel between Herbert and Mahomes lived up to expectations, even if neither signal-caller posted gaudy numbers. Both quarterbacks took three sacks, both threw one touchdown, and neither turned the ball over. The difference came down to Mahomes having the ball last and the game on the line, a scenario where he’s proven nearly unbeatable throughout his career.
Defensively, both units played well enough to win. The Chargers held Mahomes to his lowest passer rating in a victory this season, while Kansas City’s defense suffocated Herbert for 30 minutes before he found his rhythm. The chess match between defensive coordinators resulted in a physical, grinding contest that came down to special teams excellence and coaching decisions.
As the playoffs approached, this game served notice that the AFC West rivalry between these two teams had been reignited. The los angeles chargers vs kansas city chiefs match player stats proved that on any given Sunday, Jim Harbaugh’s rebuilt Chargers could stand toe-to-toe with Andy Reid’s championship machine, even if they came up just short in this December thriller.
