Frank Schwab Senior writer Updated Mon, October 19, 2026 at 12:06 AM UTC About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this story Somehow, the Kansas City Chiefs are undefeated and not the biggest talking point in the NFL.
The Chiefs' 5-0 start has flown somewhat under the radar, even though they've never lacked for attention during their dynasty. But the Chiefs keep winning, and on Sunday, they completely outplayed an undermanned and underachieving Los Angeles Chargers team. The Chiefs won 22-6 and were never challenged.
Part of that was the absolute misery of the Chargers, who are 0-6 and came into Sunday without several key players, including both starting offensive tackles and star safety Derwin James Jr. They lost receiver Ladd McConkey to a concussion in the first half.
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The Chargers are at a low point, but give the Chiefs credit for handling them without much of a sweat. They're looking like Super Bowl contenders through their first five games.
The first half Sunday was absolute domination by the Chiefs.
They outgained the Chargers 268-103. Justin Herbert was held to 45 yards passing. He had one interception, no touchdowns and a 22.9 passer rating. The Chargers are decimated on the offensive line, and that is affecting Herbert's play, but Herbert wasn't playing well early in the season, when the line was healthier. On Sunday, the Chiefs made sure he didn't have a chance.
KC's offense is much different than in years past, and that's because it features Kenneth Walker III. Walker, a free-agent addition after he won Super Bowl MVP with the Seattle Seahawks, scored two touchdowns in the first half. He had 100 yards rushing midway through the third quarter.
Patrick Mahomes threw a bad interception into the end zone to finish one first-half drive, Walker was stopped on fourth-and-goal inside the 1-yard line in the second half, and it didn't matter because the Chiefs controlled every aspect of the game. In one sequence, the Chargers had to punt after a quick three-and-out when they were backed up at their 1-yard line, following the goal-line stop on Walker. The Chiefs fumbled away the punt return, but the defense came back on the field and forced another three-and-out. The Chargers couldn't get anything going against the Chiefs' defense.
It was the kind of performance the Chiefs have had often during their great run with Mahomes, though it didn't happen much last season.
The Chiefs went 6-11 last season, Mahomes tore his ACL late in the season, and there were questions about whether Kansas City's dynasty was over. It appears things are back on track in Kansas City, though there's plenty of season still to be played.
All signs are positive early in the season. The defense has been good, and the offense has been reshaped, with Walker taking a lot of pressure off Mahomes. Dynasties can evolve, and it seems the Chiefs have done that.
They didn't play their best in the second half, but they were not going to lose to a Chargers team that hardly resembles an NFL team at this point of the season. Kansas City's defense never allowed the Chargers to get in rhythm, and while the Chiefs' offense bogged down, Mahomes' unit did enough to get the win.
The AFC has plenty of viable contenders this season, including the Bills, Ravens, Jaguars and Patriots. The Chiefs are right in that mix. And after six weeks, they're the only team in the conference that's undefeated.
A Chargers late-game comeback was already going to be tough to pull off given that they were losing 22-6.
Kansas City ramped up the pressure on Justin Herbert, sacking him two more times on L.A.'s final drive. Herbert then threw an incompletion while under pressure on the team's final snap of the game.
The Chiefs hold on for the win and remain undefeated.
The Chiefs and Chargers have reached the two-minute warning.
It looked like he missed it, but Harrison Butker snuck in a 30-yard field goal attempt just inside the left upright.
Kansas City leads 22-6 with 3:52 left in the game.
The Chargers have turned the ball over. Justin Herbert got a ball to Keandre Lambert-Smith, but the wide receiver fumbled.
It was recovered by Drue Tranquill, a former Charger, and Kansas City took over with 9:36 left in the game.
After the Chiefs' defense held strong, forcing a turnover on downs, the offense went to work. Kansas City got into Los Angeles territory, but faced fourth and 1 at the 35-yard line.
Harrison Butker lined up for the 52-yard attempt, but missed it wide right.
Kansas City leads 19-6 with 11:46 left in the game.
In the fourth quarter, trailing by 13, Jim Harbaugh opted to roll the dice on fourth and six on the Kansas City 43-yard line.
Justin Herbert's completion went only five yards when the Chargers needed six.
Kansas City took over with 13:46 left in the game.
Chiefs cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace will have to watch the rest of this game from the locker room.
Roland-Wallace was ejected from Sunday's game for throwing a punch. He was defending a teammate who took a late hit, but still the punch results in an ejection.
For just the second time in this game, the Chiefs had a three-and-out.
Emmett Johnson ran for a yard, Patrick Mahomes found Xavier Worthy for a gain of six, and then Mahomes tried to scramble but only picked up a yard.
Kansas City leads 19-6 with 21 seconds left in the third quarter.
Even after recovering the punt, the Chargers couldn't do anything with it with a fresh set of downs.
Justin Herbert had a three-yard pass, was sacked, and then had a 1-yard pass and Los Angeles had to punt again.
The Chargers did not force a turnover on this punt attempt so the Chiefs take over.
It looked like Kansas City was going to have great field position.
Instead, while the punt returner was fighting for extra yards, he fumbled before going down.
It was initially ruled a Chiefs recovery, but the Chargers challenged and won. Now, Los Angeles gets a fresh set of downs at the 41-yard line.
The Chiefs had first and goal from the 8-yard line. Kansas City went with four straight runs, and Los Angeles stuffed Kenneth Walker III at the goal line on the fourth-down play to force the turnover on downs.
This was a perfect example of how bad the L.A. is. offense has been.
Justin Herbert and Quentin Johnston connected for a 57-yard gain that got the Chargers down to the 1-yard line.
Los Angeles immediately lost 10 yards due to a holding penalty. Kimani Vidal then lost a yard on a reception, and then Herbert had two consecutive incompletions.
Cameron Dicker was good on a 30-yard field goal, but the touchdown-less result hurts.
Chiefs lead 19-6 with 10:44 left in the third.
The Chargers offense finally has life. Justin Herbert launched a moon ball down the field and it perfectly hit Quenton Johnston who managed to hold onto the ball through contact.
Los Angeles got the ball at the 1, and then immediately moved back due to a holding penalty.
Kansas City is taking a 19-3 lead into halftime.
Kicker Harrison Butker nailed a 50-yard field goal to extend the Chiefs' lead. Patrick Mahomes had completions of 14 and 19 yards to get Kansas City into field goal range.
The Chargers will get the ball coming out of halftime.
After the Chiefs' touchdown, Los Angeles went three-and-out.
The Chargers had 103 yards of offense in the first half and seven first downs, but that equaled just three points.
It looked like Kenneth Walker III was stuffed at the goal line.
Then, he bounced the ball to the outside, and Patrick Mahomes laid a block that allowed the running back to get around the edge to leap into the end zone for the score.
The end zone interception seems to have lit a fire under Patrick Mahomes, which could be bad news for the Chargers' defense.
Kansas City's drive started at the 20-yard line, and 6 plays later, Mahomes has the Chiefs on the 8-yard line with a fresh set of downs.
The Chargers' offense continues to struggle.
After the defense picked off Patrick Mahomes in the end zone, Los Angeles ran six plays and got one first down. The Chargers then punted.
Kansas City takes over, still leading 9-3 with 5:29 left in the first half.
After Justin Herbert was picked off, the Chargers defense got it right back for their offense.
Patrick Mahomes was trying to hit someone in the back corner of the end zone, but it was snatched out of the air by Cam Hart.
Justin Herbert was picked off by the Kansas City defense.
The flag on the play was offensive and was declined. Herbert had an earlier interception called back for roughing the passer, but this one stood.
Source: Sport
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