For a ninth straight year, the Kansas City Chiefs are champions of the AFC West.
After defeating the Los Angeles Chargers on “Sunday Night Football,” the Chiefs are within striking distance of the New England Patriots’ record streak of 11 consecutive division titles.
In what was a back-and-forth affair dominated by defense, Kansas City pulled off the win at home thanks to a deluge of field goals from recent signing Matthew Wright. For the second straight week, Wright hit four field goals for the Chiefs en route to a win.
After nailing field goals from 47, 33 and 50 yards out, Wright’s fourth make on Sunday night was the most dramatic of all.
With one second on the clock and the Chiefs trailing by one point, Wright’s 31-yard attempt bounced off of the left upright and through to give Kansas City the walkoff win and AFC West title.
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The Chiefs remain undefeated at home with the win and extend their win streak to three after a Week 11 loss to the Buffalo Bills. It was also their 15th straight win in one-score games, including in the playoffs.
Los Angeles moves to 4-3 in away games and 8-5 overall. The Chargers remain in the AFC playoff picture despite the loss; they currently hold the No. 6 seed.
USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates, highlights and more from the “Sunday Night Football” matchup between the Chiefs and Chargers below. All times are Eastern.
Matthew Wright was very nearly Matthew Wide Left on Sunday night.
The Chiefs secured the victory off a Matthew Wright kick, downing the Chargers 19-17 as time expired. The kick was anything but perfect, however: The kick came off Wright’s foot funny, which made a beeline for the left upright, doinking off the fixture and over the crossbar for the win.
Aptly named the “Doink for the Division” by NBC’s Mike Tirico, the kick gave the Chiefs not only the AFC West, but their 15th straight win in one-score games.
Humphries, whom the Chiefs signed two weeks ago, was the starting left tackle for the first time this season on Sunday night.
The former Cardinal got banged up late in the fourth quarter, forcing Kansas City to return to Morris as Mahomes’ blindside protector. Morris previously started 10 games at left tackle for the Chiefs before Humphries replaced him this week.
On the kickoff after his go-ahead field goal, Dicker’s kick falls short of the landing zone between the goal line and the 20-yard line.
As a result, the Chiefs, trailing by one point, will start their drive at their own 40-yard line.
Los Angeles gets the ball back into the red zone but no closer to the end zone. The Chargers look to their kicker after their drive stalls at the Kansas City 19, and Dicker’s first field goal attempt of the night is good from 37 yards out.
The Chargers are back in the lead, 17-16, with 4:35 left in the game.
Kansas City’s drive ended at the Chargers’ 32-yard line after 12 plays. Receiver DeAndre Hopkins nearly caught a long pass on third down but had the ball jarred loose on a big hit.
Wright knocked through a 50-yard field goal to give the Chiefs the lead once again. They lead, 16-14, with 13 minutes left to play.
Los Angeles completes a second consecutive touchdown drive to begin the second half with a four-play, 74-yard march to the end zone. Johnston drew a defensive pass interference call to pick up 39 yards to begin the drive, then Herbert hit tight end Stone Smartt on a 24-yard pass. A couple of plays later, Johnston capped it all off with a leaping grab in the end zone on a four-yard touchdown catch.
Los Angeles takes its first lead, 14-13, with 3:30 left in the third quarter.
Reagor headed to the Chargers’ locker room with a finger injury during the third quarter. His status for the game is also in question.
Los Angeles is now without WRs Ladd McConkey and Reagor, along with TE Will Dissly, who is questionable to return with a shoulder injury sustained in the second quarter.
After an unsuccessful first half, the Chargers opened the second half with their first scoring drive of the night. Herbert led Los Angeles on a 13-play, 79-yard drive that included a fourth-and-2 conversion and ended with a three-yard rushing touchdown by Edwards.
It’s 13-7 Chiefs with 7:12 left in the third quarter.
The Chargers announced the starting tight end is dealing with a shoulder injury after he was banged up on the final play of the first half. His status is in question for the remainder of the game.
The Chargers quarterback returned to the game after taking a hit to his left thigh area on Sunday vs. the Chiefs. Herbert didn’t receive any treatment outside of the brief rest on the bench.
The Chiefs are looking to take a 13-0 lead into the locker room.
The Chiefs marched down the field and Patrick Mahomes found Hopkins for a touchdown pass. The wideout caught the ball, split a couple of defenders and flopped backwards into the end zone for six points.
On a third down, Herbert took a massive hit to the midsection that seemed like maybe it knocked the wind out of him. Rather, it was his left leg that was bothering him: Herbert lay on the turf for roughly a minute before walking off gingerly to the sideline.
Taylor Heinicke would enter the game on third down, and the Chiefs would take over soon after following a Chargers punt.
Remigio was a practice squad wide receiver for the Chiefs that the team signed to an active contract on Saturday. He is handling punt return duties in Week 14 against the Chargers after the Chiefs placed regular punt returner Mecole Hardman on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Wright is a perfect 2 for 2 after nailing a 33-yard field goal near the halfway point of the second quarter.
It’s 6-0 Chiefs with 7:47 remaining in the first half.
Joey Bosa, the Chargers’ edge rusher, is the older brother of Nick Bosa, the 49ers’ edge rusher.
Joey and Nick both played college football at Ohio State. Joey was the third overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft, and Nick was the No. 2 overall pick in 2019.
After a five-play, 21-yard drive, the Chiefs were forced to punt, extending the game’s active streak to four straight possessions ending in a punt between the two teams.
Davis, the Chargers punt returner, muffed the catch on the Los Angeles 20-yard line but was able to recover the dropped ball three yards back. The Chargers take over possession with 12:23 left in the first half and hope to avoid punting for a third time to open the game.
Herbert was tackled around the left ankle by defensive end Mike Danna and had the same ankle taped on the sideline. He missed no time and would remain in the game after the taping.
Cupp is the third tight end on the Chiefs’ tight ends depth chart behind Travis Kelce and Noah Gray. He signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent earlier this year and ended up on its practice squad after training camp.
The Texas Tech product is making his NFL debut in Week 14 after he spent two months on the Chiefs’ practice-squad injured list with an undisclosed injury.
On a third-and-16 play from the Chargers’ own 24, Johnston picked up 21 yards after catching a pass on a drag route over the middle. Linebacker Nick Bolton hit him almost immediately and was flagged for a hit on a defenseless receiver, which added 15 more yards.
Johnston’s catch gave the Chargers 36 total yards and put them into Chiefs territory to continue the drive.
Andy Reid provided an update about Butker during a news conference on Wednesday. He said that Butker is “potentially” on target to return in Week 15, but wouldn’t commit to the veteran kicker doing so just yet.
“We’ll see how he does in the next week or two,” Reid said, per A to Z Sports’ Charles Goldman.
Wright, who is the Chiefs’ third kicker of the season, knocked through a 47-yard field goal to put the Chiefs ahead after an 11-play, 34-yard drive.
The Chargers will take over with 10:05 remaining in the first quarter. Chiefs 3, Chargers 0.
The music superstar – and girlfriend of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce – is performing on the final show of her Eras Tour on Sunday night, so she will not be in attendance.
The Chiefs and Chargers game will wrap up Sunday’s Week 14 of the 2024 NFL season with “Sunday Night Football” at 8:20 p.m. ET.
NBC will carry “Sunday Night Football.” Mike Tirico will be on the play-by-play call, with Cris Collinsworth adding color commentary. Melissa Stark will add reports from the sideline.
Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Week 14 “SNF” matchup between the Chiefs and Chargers will shape up:
Los Angeles will be without standout rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey on Sunday night vs. the Chiefs.
Josh Uche is inactive vs. the Chargers on Sunday night.
According to AccuWeather, it’s going to be a cool night in Kansas City with a temperature of 48 degrees at kickoff and a temperature of 48 degrees at midnight. The good news, the wind will not be much of a factor with gusts topping out at 20 MPH.
Streaming: Peacock | Fubo
The Chiefs are favorites to defeat the Chargers, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Not interested in this game? Check out expert picks and best bets for every NFL game this week.
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The Chargers travel to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Chiefs.
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These AFC West opponents have met 129 times in NFL history including one playoff matchup. The Chiefs lead the matchup all-time with a 70-58-1 record.
The most recent meeting between these teams was in Week 4 in September when the Chiefs won 17-10 on on the road. Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City rallied from a 10-0 first quarter deficit to win the game.
The Chiefs have a cushy lead in the AFC West and can put the division away with a win over the Chargers on “SNF.” Here’s how they line up in the AFC West entering the matchup:
