The Los Angeles Chargers fell to the Kansas City Chiefs, 34-28, in Week 15 of the 2021 season.
First Quarter
Kansas City won toss and chose to defer, giving the ball to Justin Herbert and company to start the game. The Chargers wasted no time getting things started as wide receiver Andre Roberts returned the kickoff 75-yards to the Chiefs' 24-yard line. A few plays later, running back Austin Ekeler got the ball to the five-yard line. On 3rd-and-goal Herbert connected with wide receiver Mike Williams, but the pass fell incomplete as Williams was hit. The Bolts decided to go for it on 4th-and-goal but the pass fell incomplete as tight end Donald Parham Jr. was injured on the play.
Due to the turnover on downs, Kansas City started their opening-drive on their own five-yard line and were able to drive down the field with a series of passes from quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes was then able to connect with fullback Michael Burton for a seven-yard touchdown pass to cap off an 11-play, 95-yard drive. The extra point from Harrison Butker made it 7-0, Chiefs with 7:34 left in the first quarter.
On the Chargers' next drive, a pass was tipped up by Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton and intercepted by Anthony Hitchens at the Chiefs 43-yard line. The Chiefs ended the first quarter with the ball on the Chargers' 15-yard line.
It was announced at the end of the first quarter that Parham Jr. was taken to the hospital for further evaluation.
Second Quarter
The Chargers were able to force the Chiefs to throw an incomplete pass on 3rd-and-7 on the 11-yardline. The play forced the Chiefs to settle for a field goal, making it 10-0 early in the second quarter.
On the Bolts' ensuing drive, plays from Austin Ekeler, Jared Cook and Justin Jackson allowed the Chargers to march into Chiefs territory. Facing a 3rd-and-2 on the Chiefs' 20-yard line, Hebert delivered a pass to wide receiver Keenan Allen for 15 yards and the first down. A few plays later, Herbert found the end zone on a one-yard scramble that made the score 10-7 after the PAT from Chargers kicker Dustin Hopkins.
After a quick three-and-out from the Chargers defense, the offense faced a fourth down on their ensuing drive, Herbert took the snap and drove through the pile for a two-yard gain and a first down at the Chiefs' 40-yard line. A few plays later, Herbert found wide receiver Jalen Guyton in the end zone on a four-yard touchdown pass. Guyton's touchdown put the Chargers in the lead 14-10 after the PAT with 3:15 left in the first half.
On the Chiefs' next drive, OLB Joey Bosa was able to get to Mahomes for the strip sack, linebacker Drue Tranquill was able to recover the fumble at the Chiefs' 45-yard line as it rolled down field. Eventually facing a fourth-and-goal, the Chargers decided to go for it but the pass intended for Allen was incomplete, leaving the score at 14-10 heading into halftime
Third Quarter
Kansas City received the ball to start the second half and was able to drive down to the Chargers' 14-yard line. The Bolts were able to force the Chiefs to throw an incomplete pass on 3rd-and-8, forcing Butker to kick a 33-yard field goal, that made it 14-13, Chargers.
On the Chargers' next drive, the Bolts were able to get to the Chiefs' 28-yard line. The Bolts elected to go for it on 4th-and-2 but a pass intended for Jared Cook fell incomplete, turning the ball over on downs.
With the ball back in their hands, Mahomes launched a deep pass down the field and connected with wide receiver Tyreek Hill for a 40-yard completion that brought the ball to the Chargers 22-yard line. The Bolts were able to hold the Chiefs to a 3rd-and-1 and stop them short of a first down on the Chargers' two-yard line. The Chiefs decided to go for it on fourth down and were unable to convert, the incomplete pass gave the Bolts the back on their own one-yard line with 1:48 left in the quarter.
The third quarter ended with a 22-yard run up the middle from Jackson.
Fourth Quarter
On the second play of the fourth quarter, Herbert connected with Allen for a 29-yard completion right over the hands of a Chiefs defender that brought the ball to the Chiefs' 35-yard line. A few plays later and on 4th-and-1, running back Joshua Kelley put together a seven-yard rush that brought the ball to the four-yard line but a few plays later, Kelley fumbled as he dove for the end zone. Chiefs linebacker Ben Niemann was able to recover the fumble on the Kansas City two-yard line.
The Chiefs didn't have the ball for long as a few plays later, OLB Uchenna Nwosu tipped a Mahomes pass and intercepted the ball at the four-yard line and had a two-yard return. Ekeler was able to score the very next play on a two-yard rushing touchdown, that grew the Bolts' lead to 21-13 after the PAT with 9:29 left in the game.
A few plays into Kansas City's next drive, Mahomes connected with tight end Travis Kelce for a 69-yard completion and was ruled down at the one-yard line. Two plays later, Mahomes connected with Hill for a one-yard receiving touchdown. The Chiefs elected to go for two and were able to convert on a pass to running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire that evened the score, 21-21 with just under eight minutes to play.
On the next Chargers drive, Herbert connected with wide receiver Joshua Palmer for a 15-yard completion as he secured the catch just before stepping out of bounds. Back-to-back plays of 15 yards for the Bolts put the Chargers at the Chiefs' 12. A few plays later, the Bolts regained the lead on a touchdown pass from Herbert to Allen. Allen's touchdown catch put the Bolts up 28-21 after the PAT with just over two minutes to go.
On the Chiefs next drive, Mahomes connected with Hill on 3rd-and-10 for a 20-yard completion. A few plays later Mahomes was able to gain 32-yards on a scramble play that brought the ball to the Chargers seven-yard line. On the next play, Mahomes found Kelce for a one-yard score that tied the game 28-28 after the PAT with 1:16 left.
Facing a 3rd-and-15 on the Bolts' next drive with 33 seconds left, Herbert launched a ball deep down field but the pass fell incomplete. The Chiefs were unable to put together a drive down the field and ended regulation by kneeing the ball.
Overtime
The Chiefs won the toss and received the kickoff to start overtime. A few plays into OT, Mahomes found Kelce on a short pass that he took for 27 yards. A few plays later, Mahomes found Kelce again for a 34-yard touchdown that sealed the overtime win for the Chiefs, 34-28.
Browse through live action photos of the Bolts Week 15 matchup against the Chiefs for Thursday Night Football.
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