Kansas City Chiefs will miss the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2014 after being officially eliminated from postseason contention on Sunday.
Andy Reid’s side were beaten 16-13 by the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead, while additional victories for the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars sealed their fate.
The Chiefs have visited five of the last six Super Bowls, including three in a row, and have appeared in the playoffs in 10 straight seasons while winning nine consecutive AFC West titles in a row.
Patrick Mahomes exited the game late in the fourth quarter after suffering an apparent knee injury. With just under two minutes, Mahomes scrambled toward the Kansas City sideline, threw the ball away and was spun to the ground by Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand.
Mahomes immediately grabbed his left knee, which appeared to hyperextend as he was going to the ground. He was taken to the blue injury tent on the Kansas City sideline, then helped to the locker room with a towel over his head.
Justin Herbert, playing through a broken left hand, threw for 210 yards and a touchdown, as the Chargers (10-4) ensured consecutive 10-win seasons for the first time since 2006-07 by completing a rare regular-season sweep of Kansas City.
With 20 seconds to go, Gardner Minshew unloaded a pass intended for Travis Kelce, and Derwin James – his long-time divisional foil – leaped up to pick it off, allowing Los Angeles to escape.
Mahomes was held to 189 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. Kansas City (6-8) managed just 239 yards as a team.
EARLY GAME RESULTS
- Cincinnati Bengals 0-24 Baltimore Ravens
- Philadelphia Eagles 31-0 Las Vegas Raiders
- Houston Texans 40-20 Arizona Cardinals
- Kansas City Chiefs 13-16 Los Angeles Chargers
- New England Patriots 31-35 Buffalo Bills
- Jacksonville Jaguars 48-20 New York Jets
- New York Giants 21-29 Washington Commanders
- Chicago Bears 31-3 Cleveland Browns
More to follow…
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