In Week 4, the Kansas City Chiefs entered So-Fi Stadium looking to earn their fourth win of the season. They trailed 10-0 after consecutive turnovers in the first quarter, but fought their way back to a 17-10 victory.

First quarter

The Chargers won the opening coin toss and postponed their decision until the second half. That gave Kansas City the ball to start the game, starting at the 30-yard line after a touchback.

The Chiefs gained momentum early, as quarterback Patrick Mahomes found Travis Kelce for 38 yards down the right sideline on third down. However, rookie running back Carson Steele fumbled on the next play, giving Los Angeles deep possession at their own 26-yard line.

Los Angeles used the run game to move themselves down the field, staying ahead of the sticks and avoiding third down for the entire 10-play drive. On second down in the red zone, quarterback Justin Herbert found rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey with safety Bryan Cook in coverage. The Chargers led 7-0 after their first drive.

Mahomes started the next drive with a throw to Kelce that ended in an interception. The return ended in a fumble that was nearly recovered by the Chiefs, but the Chargers eventually took possession.

The Chiefs defense was helped by penalties to stifle the Chargers’ short-field offense and hold them to a field goal. Los Angeles made the kick to make it 10-0.

A negative day for Mahomes and the offense continued on their third drive. The unit went three and out, punctuated by a pocket where Mahomes had to hold the ball as the pocket collapsed. Kansas City was forced to punt it.

The Chiefs defense worked with a fumble and a false start to start their next drive. It was second with 21 yards to go when the first quarter ended.

Second quarter

The Chiefs’ pass rush took advantage of the third-and-long opportunity to warm up Herbert; defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah influenced the quarterback’s throw and caused an incompletion. The Chargers had to punt back to Kansas City.

Running back Kareem Hunt got his first carry in his return to the Chiefs, gaining nine yards on a first-and-long. The Chiefs couldn’t take advantage of it; on third and short, a quick pass to wide receiver Skyy Moore went through his hands for a drive-ending incompletion.

When they backed up, the Chargers offense dipped and ducked to get to third and short, but the Chiefs defense stopped them there. Defensive tackle Chris Jones disrupted the line, and cornerback Jaylen Watson finished the tackle at the line of scrimmage.

Kansas City got the offense going with strong runs from Kareem Hunt and Samaje Perine before passing to Kelce. The Chiefs labored in Los Angeles territory, but then reached third and long; the Chargers swarmed Mahomes, leading to a disappointing punt with five minutes left.

The kick trapped the Chargers deep in their own territory, and the Chiefs defense took advantage. After scoring a run, the Chiefs forced two incompletions; on third down, cornerback Trent McDuffie blitzed and hit Herbert as he threw.

With four minutes left in the first half, Mahomes went for the big play on first down. He unloaded a bomb to rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy in the end zone, and Worthy secured it for a 54-yard score. The Chiefs tightened the score to 10-7.

Kansas City’s defense continued its strong play since allowing a touchdown on the opening drive. The unit forced a three-and-out, highlighted by a Chris Jones sack. The Chiefs got the ball back three minutes before the end.

From their own 24-yard line, the Chiefs looked set to score before halftime. However, right tackle Jawaan Taylor was called for holding, his second penalty of the game. That set the drive back, putting the offense on third and 10th after the two-minute warning.

Kelce found space over center to move the chains, then tight end Noah Gray made two straight catches to advance to midfield. A holding penalty on right guard Trey Smith kept things going and forced the Chiefs to settle for a long field goal.

Kicker Harrison Butker attempted the 65-yard field goal, but the kick didn’t have enough leg in it. At halftime the score remained 10-7.

Third quarter

The Chargers’ offense immediately put together an explosive play in the second half, giving McConkey room to run off a slant for a 37-yard gain. The Chiefs defense settled down from there and forced a fourth loss. The field goal attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the Chargers without any points from the drive.

The Chiefs took over and leaned on Hunt and the ground game to continue a drive into Los Angeles territory. On the only third-and-long they faced, wide receiver Justin Watson gained 17 yards on a play over the middle. However, the Chiefs remained just outside the red zone; the team elected to punt on a fourth-and-1, tying the score at 10-10.

Herbert and Los Angeles put together a strong drive in response to the Chiefs’ score, starting with a 26-yard completion to wide receiver Joshua Palmer. That put them in a position to lean on the rushing attack and push deep into Kansas City territory. Herbert made two strong throws to move the chains on third downs. That put them at the 12-yard line as the quarter ended.

Fourth quarter

The Chiefs forced fourth-and-1 at the three-yard line, and Los Angeles wanted to go for it. Herbert’s dropback was disrupted by Chris Jones, and a holding penalty doomed the Chargers’ audacious attempt to convert. An incomplete pass left the Chiefs with the ball deep in their own end of the field.

Hunt helped the Chiefs work from poor field position and apparently took the reins as the Chiefs’ primary running back. He and Mahomes both moved the chains with their feet. A holding call on Noah Gray negated one point, and the Chiefs offense couldn’t recover. On third down, a sideline attempt to Kelce was out of his reach, leading to a punt.

With nine minutes left, the Chiefs defense had to get the ball back, and it did so quickly. The unit scored a point, forced a scrambling incompletion, and then Jaylen Watson broke up a pass on third down. The Chargers went three-and-out and took just one minute of playing time.

Mahomes opened this late-game drive with a play-action pass, stepping up and finding Noah Gray over the middle for 29 yards. That put the Chiefs at the Chargers’ 31-yard line, and allowed Hunt to rush for 23 yards on the next three snaps. From the three-yard line, Samaje Perine punched in a handoff, putting the Chiefs ahead by a score of 17-10.

With six minutes left, the Chargers looked for an equalizer. The offense started with a good screen completion, then the Chiefs defense stuffed the next first-down run. After linebacker Drue Tranquill blew up a pass play on second down, Chris Jones ended the drive with his second sack of the game. That forced Los Angeles to punt the ball with less than four minutes left.

The Chiefs needed to put together a game-sealing drive and started with another strong run from Hunt. Needing to move the chains, Mahomes found an open Worthy running down the field, leading to a two-minute warning.

Los Angeles had zero timeouts, giving the Chiefs a chance to take a knee and end the game. Kansas City won 17-10.

Injuries

Wide receiver Rashee Rice left the game with a knee injury on a cart and was later ruled out.

Special teams

Punter Matt Araiza’s first kick traveled 53 yards and was downed at the Chargers’ 19-yard line. His second punt was well caught on the six-yard line. Araiza’s third punt was downed at the one-yard line. By the end of the game, all four of his kicks landed inside the 20-yard line.

Kicker Harrison Butker missed a 65-yard field goal attempt just before halftime. In the third quarter, he made a 37-yard kick to tie the game. He made both of his point-after attempts.