The Los Angeles Chargers are going to the playoffs, and even have a shot to win the AFC West after a remarkable comeback effort to take down the Kansas City Chiefs 29-28 on Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium.
Los Angeles trailed 28-14 when Justin Jackson finished off an 11-play, 74-yard drive on this three-yard touchdown run with 3:49 remaining.
.@J_ManPrime21 scores from three yards out! #FightForEachOther
We've got a one-possession game. #LACvsKC
📺: @nflnetwork + @NFLonFOX
📱+💻: https://t.co/DJUityQHC9 pic.twitter.com/raoTyr5EUq— NFL (@NFL) December 14, 2018
The Chargers’ defense got Kansas City’s electrifying offense to have a three-and-out, and turned it into what will be a very memorable game-winning drive.
Philip Rivers made a pair of ridiculous throws to Travis Benjamin on the drive.
Rivers to Benjamin for 31 yards!
The @Chargers are in Chiefs' territory. #LACvsKC
📺: @nflnetwork + @NFLonFOX
📱+💻: https://t.co/DJUityQHC9 pic.twitter.com/pmRzZSqf96— NFL (@NFL) December 14, 2018
RIGHT ON TIME DIME pic.twitter.com/R6KK7jiMzu
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) December 14, 2018
And on 1st-and-goal with four seconds left, Rivers found Mike Williams in the end zone for Williams’ third touchdown of the game.
CHARGERS GET THE TOUCHDOWN 😱 pic.twitter.com/kRaJaEAoz2
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) December 14, 2018
Rather than go for the extra point to send the game into overtime, Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn wisely opted to go for the two and the win. On the road against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, do you really want to take the chance you don’t even see the ball in overtime? And when you have the opportunity to win the game right then and there in regulation?
Well, Rivers found Williams somehow wide open in the end zone and Lynn was rewarded for his “gamble.”
CHARGERS TAKE THE LEAD pic.twitter.com/PKtRhee1pm
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) December 14, 2018
Quick look at win probability for this game tonight. Basically in @Chiefs' favor all game except for the very, very end when @Chargers pulled it out. pic.twitter.com/imK05CbDRZ
— Mike Sando, ESPN.com (@SandoESPN) December 14, 2018
The Chiefs were 39-0 under Andy Reid with a 14+ point lead in the 4th quarter, the most wins without a loss of any team since 2013.
Meanwhile, the Chargers are now 2-1 on the road when trailing by at least 14 points this season (won at Steelers). The rest of the NFL is 3-78. pic.twitter.com/Yv8u0fe3jp
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 14, 2018
The Chargers and Chiefs are both 11-3 now, but Kansas City has the tiebreaker due to division record. However, the Chiefs play in Seattle against the red-hot Seahawks next Sunday night, so it’s easy to see Kansas City suffering another loss. The Chargers have two difficult games themselves, vs the Baltimore Ravens and at the Denver Broncos, but will be favored in both contests.
Whatever the case, the Chargers are officially in the playoffs and they’re a well-rounded team that nobody wants to face right now. And even if they have to settle for a Wild Card, they’ve more than proven they can win on the road, with wins in Seattle, Pittsburgh, and Kansas City now on the season.