Kansas City Chiefs Top Los Angeles Chargers Following Game-Swinging Pick-6

In Amazon's debut as a primetime football destination, the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers provided plenty of fireworks on Thursday Night Football. The Chargers jumped to a 17-7 lead following their opening drive of the second half, but it all went to pieces after that. The Chiefs clawed their way back into the game and eventually took the lead on a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown, and the Chargers found themselves on the losing end of a 27-24 final score.

The Chargers learned a harsh lesson about giving Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes second chances. Everything seemed wonderful to start the game: Mahomes only managed 89 net passing yards at the half, and the Chargers forced four punts while allowing a meagre 119 total yards. But the Bolts never pulled away, and they'll be kicking themselves when they look back at all the opportunities they missed on the way to surrendering their 10-point second-half lead. Time after time, they let Mahomes off the hook for his mistakes, and time after time, he responded with a body blow. He punished one dropped interception with his second touchdown pass later in the drive and followed another dropped pick with a field goal, and suddenly the Chargers lead had evaporated.

The Chargers opened the second half with a spectacular touchdown catch by wide receiver Mike Williams, but the offense unravelled after that. Offensive line injuries to center Corey Linsley and left guard Matt Feiler reared their ugly head repeatedly, culminating with a direct hit to Justin Herbert's ribs that briefly knocked the young passer out in the fourth quarter. Herbert put the ball in play for Chiefs defenders way more often than his lone interception suggests, but that one was plenty. The game swung when Herbert threw a disastrous pick-six on first and goal from inside the Chiefs' five-yard line with the game tied. The Chiefs tacked on a field goal late in the fourth to go up two scores, and the Chargers couldn't overcome the deficit.

The Los Angeles Chargers will have 10 days to flagellate themselves for their errors before hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3. Meanwhile, the Chiefs will travel to Indianapolis for a matchup with the Colts.