The San Diego Chargers fell to the Kansas City Chiefs, 37-27. The Bolts got on the board first after they drove downfield on their opening possession, and Josh Lambo kicked a 35-yard field goal to make it 3-0, San Diego. The teams traded 35-yard field goals after the Chiefs tied it 3-3 off their opening drive. The Chargers then went up 10-3, but the touchdown was extra special because Antonio Gates' score tied Tony Gonzalez for most touchdowns by a tight end in NFL history (111). The Chiefs didn't let the record faze them though as on their next drive, they went 75 yards in four plays to tie the game 10-10 after Alex Smith rushed off left end and into the end zone. The Chiefs made it 17-10 and capitalized on a Chargers turnover nine plays after Marcus Peters picked off Philip Rivers. The Chiefs defense then stalled any hope of the Chargers tying it up before the half as Daniel Sorensen picked Rivers off in the end zone. Kansas City then increased their lead 20-10 into the half as Santos kicked a 25-yard field goal.
Jahleel Addae's pick-six took away all momentum the Chiefs had on their opening drive of the second half. Addae's 90-yard return was the seventh-longest interception return in team history and cut the Chiefs' lead to three. The Chiefs then took advantage of good starting field position after the Chargers kick post-touchdown went out of bounds; 12 plays later, Smith connected with West again for a 27-17 lead. Off the Chargers first punt of the game, Tyreek Hill made his special teams presence known as he caught the punt at the KC five and took off. His decision proved wise, as number 10 returned the punt 95 yards for a 34-17 lead. The Bolts then got back in the red zone, but their drive stalled and they had to settle for a field goal to make it 34-20, Chiefs. On the next drive, the Chiefs increased their lead 37-20 off another Santos field goal. Although the Chargers tried to assemble a drive in attempt for another chance to get Gates a touchdown, the drive ended with number 86 – not 85 – scoring six. The Rivers-Henry touchdown made it 37-27 and the Bolts went 5-11 on the 2016 season.
IMPACT PLAYS
FIRST QUARTER
14:54 – Ronnie Hillman took a short pass from Philip Rivers upfield to gain 21.
10:20 – Josh Lambo's 35-yard field goal was good to give the Chargers a 3-0 lead.
7:37 – Facing a 3rd-and-6, Alex Smith dropped back and lobbed a pass in the direction of Jeremy Maclin. Maclin made an excellent catch to gain 23 to take the ball to the San Diego 10.
6:55 – On the next play, Joey Bosa came in to meet Charcandrick West in the backfield for a loss of four.
6:04– Bosa made his presence felt again, this time on Smith, where he sacked the QB on third down for a loss of two.
5:23 – Cairo Santos' 35-yard field goal tied the game.
3:46 – Hunter Henry made a leaping one-handed grab to snare a 11-yard pass.
:50 – Andre Williams took a handoff to move the chains on fourth down.
SECOND QUARTER
14:55 – Antonio Gates' two-yard touchdown gave the Bolts a 10-3 lead and a new record for number 85 as he tied Tony Gonzalez for most touchdowns by a TE in NFL history (111).
12:53 – Smith kept the ball and rushed off left end and into the end zone to tie the game.
10:43 – Marcus Peters cut in front of the receiver to intercept Rivers. Peters' 16-yard return on the turnover took the ball to the San Diego 34.
6:14 – West took a short pass from Smith into the end zone to make it 17-10, Chiefs.
3:23 – Gates gained 23 on a 3rd-and-7. On the next play, Hillman put a spin move on a defender and gained 21 to move the chains.
1:17 – Daniel Sorensen made a leaping interception in the end zone to give his team the ball with 1:10 to go in the first half.
:05 – Santos made a 25-yard field goal.
THIRD QUARTER
13:17 – On 3rd-and-4, Smith found Maclin for a gain of eight yards to move the chains.
12:19 – Tyreek Hill took an end-around handoff up the right sideline for a gain of 20.
10:43 – Melvin Ingram appeared to get his hands on the ball and Jahleel Addae picked off Smith. Addae then ran the ball back 90 yards into the end zone to make it 20-17, Chiefs.
3:53 – Smith connected with West again for a two-yard score.
1:20 – Hill caught a punt at the five and decided to take off. He then broke a tackle and went 95 yards into the end zone for a 34-17 lead.
FOURTH QUARTER
12:38 – Gates gained 20 yards on second down to move the ball to the Kansas City 22.
11:58 – On the next play, Williams rushed off right guard for 14.
10:22 – Lambo's 29-yard field goal made it 34-20, KC.
7:25 – Ingram swallowed Smith up for a loss of four.
4:35 – Santos' 37-yard field goal increased the visitors' lead, 37-20.
3:10 – The Chargers were forced to go for it on 4th-and-6. Inman caught the pass and moved the chains to the KC 49.
2:13 – Rivers connected with Hunter Henry for the 12-yard score.
