Every time Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert squares off against quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, plenty of points are guaranteed, and Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium was no different, at least in the first half. The final result was also similar as the Chiefs triumphed 31-17.
Mahomes helped the Chiefs improve to 6-1, and his head-to-head tally against Herbert to 5-1. He totaled 424 passing yards, four touchdowns and one interception on 32 of 42 passing, giving the reigning MVP his fifth career game with over 400 passing yards and four passing touchdowns. That ties with future Hall of Famer Drew Brees for the most such games in league history, while only Hall of Famers Peyton Manning (eight) and Dan Marino (seven) have more such games in their career.
Herbert couldn't quite go toe to toe with Mahomes, throwing for 259 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The Chiefs defense continued their run of holding opponents to 21 or fewer points in the victory, something they have done in all seven games in 2023.
Here are the key takeaways from the battle between two of the NFL's top quarterbacks:
Patrick Mahomes simply couldn't be stopped in the first half. Throwing for 321 and three touchdowns is typically the output for a strong quarterback for an entire games. Mahomes did that in two quarters. His mind meld with All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce has never looked stronger as the two connected for nine catches, 143 yards and a touchdown in the first half alone. The Kansas City defense also did its part, sacking Justin Herbert five times and forcing two interceptions. A complete team win for the defending Super Bowl champions.
They couldn't make the big plays when they needed them. Sure, allowing 424 yards and four touchdowns to Mahomes doesn't help matters, but the Chargers had chances to force overtime. Their offense simply couldn't execute in the second half with Herbert throwing two picks, one tipped 8 yards away from scoring, and needing to punt three times. Los Angeles clearly misses Mike Williams, that big body red zone target type of receiver. Rookie first-round pick receiver Quentin Johnston had a career-high 20 receiving yards on one catch. They need more from him to truly take their offense to another level.
Hardman's 50-yard punt return. The Los Angeles defense had completely stifled the Chiefs offense in the second half until his 50-yard punt return allowed them to start a drive on the opposing 35. This play led to what became the game-sealing touchdown by Pacheco.
Mahomes' first touchdown of the day, a 46-yard catch-and run to wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, put everything on display that makes him the league's best quarterback. He sized up the pass rush, had the ability to escape the pocket and then make a perfect pass on the run that allowed his teammates to continue his stride all the way into the end zone.
The Chiefs (6-1) will hit the road in Week 8 to face another AFC West rival in the Denver Broncos, a team they defeated 19-8 on "Thursday Night Football" in Week 6. The Broncos earned a narrow 19-17 home win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 7.
The Chargers (2-4) will return home to SoFi Stadium to host the Chicago Bears on "Sunday Night Football" in Week 8. Chicago won 30-12 Sunday against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders with both teams playing without their usual starting quarterbacks.
Herbert's second interception of the game seals the final result, a 31-17 win for the Kansas City Chiefs. Their defense has held all of its opponents to 21 or fewer points. Patrick Mahomes had his fifth career game with 400 or more passing yards (424) and four or more passing touchdowns (four), tied for the third-most in NFL history.
Pacheco's 10-yard touchdown catch via the screen pass from Mahomes may have iced this game for Kansas City. They go up 14, 31-17, with 3:30 left in the game. Justin Herbert and the Chargers are going to have to hurry if they want to have two more possessions.
After the Los Angeles challenge, the Chiefs maintain possession after running back Isiah Pacheco is ruled down by contact.
Recently acquired Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman makes a huge impact on this game, which has been scoreless since halftime, with a 50-yard punt return. Kansas City will begin their next drive on the Chargers side of the field, specifically at the 35 up seven, 24-17, with 6:32 left in the game.
Nick Bolton gets up off the field shaking his head, and he walks under his own power to the Chiefs sideline.
Chiefs inside linebacker Nick Bolton lands awkwardly trying to tackle Chargers Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen, and he is grabbing his left wrist while laying on the ground.
Still no points in the second half after the Chiefs are forced to punt once again after Patrick Mahomes' first incompletion when throwing Travis Kelce's way on a third-and-eight pass attempt. Chargers begin their next drive at their own 22 with eight minutes left in the game. Los Angeles trails by seven, 24-17.
Chargers punter J.K. Scott is putting on clinic, pinning the Chiefs inside their own 10 once again, this time at their own eight. Kansas City still leads by a touchdown, 24-17 with 11:51 left in the game.
The Chiefs are unable to get out of their end zone and go three-and-out after starting at their own three. The Chargers take possession in great field position, at their own 44, with 12:41 to play trailing by seven, 24-17.
The Chargers couldn't have had a better outcome after a three-and-out as punter J.K. Scott drills a punt that goes out of bounds at the three. Chiefs lead 24-17 early in the fourth quarter.
Given that the Chiefs and Chargers are in a one-score game, 24-17 Kansas City out in front as the fourth quarter gets going, here is a refresh on how the first five matchups between Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes unfolded.
The third quarter couldn't have been a stronger juxtaposition to what happened in the first half since no points were scored. The Chiefs lost a fumble and punted on their two possessions while Herbert threw a tipped-pass interception eight yards away from the game-tying touchdown on the Chargers only drive of the quarter.
The Chargers pass rush finally gets home for their first sack of Patrick Mahomes, and it couldn't have come at a better time than the third-and-10 that it did. Kansas City punts, and Justin Herbert returns to the field still down seven, 24-17, with 16 seconds left in the first quarter.
In response, Kansas City's defense bends but doesn't break. The Chiefs faced a third and goal at their eight, and defensive lineman Charles Omenihu batted a Justin Herbert pass up into the air and cornerback L'Jarius Sneed came down with the football for the first Chargers giveaway of the afternoon. Chiefs lead 24-17 with just under five minutes left in the third quarter.
After getting absolutely shredded in the first half, the Chargers defense comes up with a play they desperately needed: a takeaway. After Chiefs tight end Blake Bell caught a seven-yard pass, Los Angeles linebacker Eric Kendricks punched the football loose, forcing a fumble, and Pro Bowl safety Derwin James jumped on top of the football for the change in possession. Chargers offense takes the field at their own 19 down seven, 24-17, for their first drive of the half.
Chiefs TE Travis Kelce continues to ball out with girlfriend Taylor Swift in attendance like she is today. He racked up a first-half career high 143 receiving yards while catching all nine of his targets.
Travis Kelce has a career-high 143 first-half receiving yards on nine catches, including the one-yard touchdown at the end of the half. Kansas City will receive the second-half kickoff.
41-yard catch-and-run from Mahomes to Rice of 37 yards on the first play of their next drive launched the Chiefs out to their own 41 with 3:48 left in the half, providing them plenty of time to march down the field for the go-ahead score. Kansas City got as close as the 11, but an offensive pass interference penalty on receiver Justyn Ross on a Mahomes throw to the end zone backed Kansas City up to the 21. Two players later, Travis Kelce drew a defensive pass-interference in the end zone of Chargers linebacker Eric Kendricks, putting the Chiefs at the one with 29 seconds to go in the half. Kelce scored on the ensuing play via a shovel pass, giving Kansas City a 24-17 at the break.
Following the Mahomes interception, the Chiefs defense does him a solid and forces a Chargers punt after allowing just one first down. A sack from new Kansas City defensive lineman Charles Omenihu derailed Los Angeles with a loss of six on a second down. Chargers punter J.K. Scott then did his job, pinning Mahomes and company in the shadow of their own end zone at the four with 2:57 left in the half.
Mahomes attempted to connect with a new, old friend in wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who the team re-acquired in a trade with the Jets earlier in the week, but Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. won the jump ball in the contested situation, coming away with an interception instead of Hardman hauling in a big play for Mahomes. The Chargers take over on their own 21 with 5:44 left in the half.
Just like the Chiefs' last drive, a big catch-and-run sets up a red zone touchdown for the Chargers. After Justin Herbert hit wide receiver Joshua Palmer for a 60-yard catch-and-run, he found the end zone through the air. Three plays later on third-and-goal from the seven, Herbert hit tight end Gerald Everett, who beat Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams off the line of scrimmage to haul in a Herbert pass smack dab in the middle of the end zone for the equalizing, seven-yard touchdown. The contest is once again evened up, this time at 17-17, with 7:11 left in the first half.
Chiefs second-round rookie Rashee Rice was Kansas City's leading wide receiver entering Week 7, and he showed why on his third career receiving touchdown, a six-yard score in the back of the end zone. The touchdown was scored immediately after Travis Kelce rumbled down the field for a 53-yard catch-and-run. Kansas City leads 17-10 with 8:37 to go. Patrick Mahomes has completed 13 of his first 14 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns while Kelce has caught all five of his targets for 106 yards.
This game is starting to evolve into the classic Chargers-Chiefs scoring fests that we have come to expect thanks to a touchdown from an unexpected place: Los Angeles running back Joshua Kelley from 49 yards out. Kansas City hadn't allowed a touchdown of over 25 yards this season, but Kelley exploded through the right side of the line and sprinted untouched into the end zone for a gain of nearly 50, 49 yards to be exact. 10-10 with 10:42 left in the half.
Mahomes magic strikes once again! Chargers All-Pro pass rusher Khalil Mack flushed him out of the pocket, but Mahomes is the NFL's best when throwing on the run. Mahomes ran right and appeared like he might take off and run with the football himself. However, he released the ball just before the line of scrimmage to drop a perfectly-thrown pass to an open Marquez Valdes-Scantling. MVS blew past Los Angeles cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. to find the end zone for a 46-yard score. The Chiefs jump back out in front 10-3 early in the second quarter.
Interesting note from NFL Media's James Palmer regarding Herbert's left hand. Certainly something to monitor going forward. As long as his glove can stay on, Herbert shouldn't be affected too much.
Los Angeles answers Kansas City's field goal with a field goal. Like the Chiefs opening drive, the Chargers were marching downfield. However, they were thrown off by a double-digit loss, a sack of Herbert by Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay (loss of 13). So, they were forced to kick a field goal, and kicker Cameron Dicker drained the 55-yarder, his longest of 2023, to tie the game at three.
After a Chargers punt on the opening possession, Kansas City looked primed to march down the field and get into the end zone. Patrick Mahomes completed seven of his first eight passes for 82 yards, but a holding penalty by left tackle Donovan Smith at the Los Angeles 30 derailed the drive. The Chiefs clawed back to third and seven at the 17, but an incomplete pass to Mecole Hardman caused Kansas City to settle for a 34-yard field goal. 3-0 Kansas City after one possession for each team.
Despite Mahomes' lower production this season, All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce is still balling out. His 124 receiving yards last week against the Broncos were a season-high as he had not broken 70 receiving yards prior to Week 6 vs Denver.
Entering Week 7 Kelce is once against producing like the NFL's best tight end.
Patrick Mahomes is averaging 6.5 air yds/pass attempt this season, 31st of 33 qualified quarterbacks entering Week 7. The reigning NFL and Super Bowl MVP is averaging a career-low 265.5 pass yards/game this season. A stark contrast from his 2022 MVP campaign when he led the NFL in pass yards/game last season with 308.8. Mahomes does have a career-high in completion percentage at 68.3% in 2023. His 11 passing touchdowns this season are tied for the fifth-most in the NFL entering Week 6, but they are his lowest through his first six starts in a season in his career.
