The energy at Arrowhead usually feels like a physical weight, but last December, it felt like a funeral. Most people watching the Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs matchup on December 14, 2025, expected a classic. What they got instead was the end of an era.
If you’ve followed this rivalry for the last decade, you know the script. The Chargers play it close, Justin Herbert makes a few "how did he do that" throws, and then Patrick Mahomes rips their hearts out in the final two minutes. Not this time. This game didn't just break the pattern; it broke the Chiefs' season.
The Play That Changed Everything
It’s hard to talk about this game without starting at the end.
The Chiefs were down 16–13. There were less than two minutes left on the clock. Mahomes was doing his usual thing—scrambling, looking for an opening, trying to conjure magic out of thin air. He was sprinting toward the sideline, about to throw the ball away to fight another down, when Chargers defensive lineman Da'Shawn Hand spun him to the turf.
Mahomes didn't get up.
He clutched his left knee, and the stadium went silent. You could hear a pin drop in a place that usually registers on the Richter scale. It was a torn ACL. Just like that, the best player in the world was done for the year.
Why the 2025 Matchup Flipped the Script
For years, the Chargers were the team that found creative ways to lose. They were the "almost" team. But under Jim Harbaugh, something shifted. They became... well, boring in the best way possible. They stopped beating themselves.
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In the first half of that Week 15 game, the Chargers looked shaky. They trailed 13–3 late in the second quarter. Old Chargers teams would have folded. But Justin Herbert—playing with a broken left hand, mind you—led a 60-yard drive in under 40 seconds to get a touchdown before the half.
The second half was a slog. It was cold. It was windy. It was exactly the kind of game the Chiefs usually win because they have the better kicker and the more disciplined roster.
- Cameron Dicker (aka "Dicker the Kicker") was perfect, hitting three field goals.
- The Chargers defense, led by Odafe Oweh and Derwin James, stayed home on the RPOs that usually shred them.
- Gardner Minshew came in for an injured Mahomes and immediately threw the game-sealing pick to Derwin James.
Honestly, seeing the Chiefs eliminated from playoff contention in their own house was surreal. It was the first time in 11 seasons they missed the dance.
The Mahomes vs. Herbert Nuance
Everyone loves to compare these two, but the "head-to-head" record is kinda misleading. Mahomes leads the series 7–4 (as of the start of 2026), but look at the scores. Almost every single game is decided by a touchdown or less.
Mahomes once said that Herbert throws passes he doesn't think anyone else in the league can throw. That’s not just veteran talk; it’s the truth. Herbert became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 1,700 completions, then 2,000. He’s been a stat machine since he stepped onto the field.
The difference has always been the supporting cast. While Mahomes had Andy Reid and a stable front office, Herbert cycled through coaches and defensive schemes like he was changing shirts. In 2025, the Chargers finally gave him a defense that could hold a lead.
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Recent Series Results
| Date | Winner | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 14, 2025 | Chargers | 16–13 | Kansas City |
| Sept 5, 2025 | Chargers | 27–21 | São Paulo, Brazil |
| Dec 8, 2024 | Chiefs | 19–17 | Kansas City |
| Sept 29, 2024 | Chiefs | 17–10 | Los Angeles |
Winning both matchups in 2025 was a massive statement for LA. They didn't just win; they swept the kings of the AFC West.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Rivalry
There is a myth that the Chargers "choke" against Kansas City.
If you look at the 2022 Week 2 game, everyone remembers the 99-yard pick-six that Jaylen Watson took back for the Chiefs. People called it a "Charger moment." But they forget Herbert was playing through fractured rib cartilage. He was literally clutching his chest between plays and still threw a touchdown late to keep them in it.
The gap between these teams hasn't been about talent. It’s been about situational football. The Chiefs, for years, were the smartest team in the room. They knew when to take the check-down and when to go for the throat. The 2025 season showed that the Chargers finally learned those same lessons.
Looking Ahead to 2026
So, where do we go from here?
The 2026 schedule is already set, even if the dates aren't. We know for a fact the Chargers and Chiefs will play twice—once at SoFi Stadium and once at Arrowhead.
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The big question mark is Mahomes' recovery. A torn ACL in late December is a tough mountain to climb for a quarterback whose game relies so much on mobility and platform-off throws. If he's not 100% by the time they meet in 2026, the power dynamic in the AFC West might officially stay in Los Angeles.
The Chiefs are also facing a bit of a roster crunch. Travis Kelce isn't getting any younger, and their offensive line struggled significantly toward the end of last year. Meanwhile, the Chargers are finally finding their identity under the Harbaugh/Hortiz regime.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you’re betting on or analyzing the next Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs game, keep these factors in mind:
- Watch the Injury Reports Early: The Mahomes recovery timeline is the only thing that matters in KC right now. If he’s on the PUP list to start the season, the division is wide open.
- The "Dicker" Factor: In close divisional games, the kicker is often the MVP. Cameron Dicker has proven he doesn't blink in Arrowhead's wind.
- Check the Run Game: Harbaugh wants to run the ball. If the Chargers can keep Mahomes off the field by sustaining 8-minute drives, they win. They did exactly that in the Brazil game to open 2025.
- Secondary Play: Derwin James seems to have Mahomes' number in high-leverage moments. Watch how the Chargers disguise their coverages; they’ve moved away from the "bend but don't break" style to a much more aggressive, "hit them in the mouth" approach.
The AFC West used to be a one-horse race. After the events of last December, it’s officially a dogfight again. Whether you’re a fan of the Bolts or the Kingdom, the next time these two meet, the stakes couldn't be higher.
To stay ahead of the next matchup, monitor the NFL's official schedule release in May 2026 to see if the Chargers and Chiefs will be featured in a primetime slot, as their recent history suggests another high-stakes broadcast is likely. Additionally, track Patrick Mahomes' rehabilitation progress through the Chiefs' official training camp updates in July to gauge his readiness for the season opener.