Chiefs edge Chargers 27-24 to make 2-0 NFL start

Patrick Mahomes threw two touchdown passes but it was fourth-quarter defensive heroics that sparked the Kansas City Chiefs over the Los Angeles Chargers 27-24 in an NFL contest Thursday.

Mahomes completed 24 of 35 passes for 235 yards without an interception while Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran eight times for 74 yards in the victory, which pushed the Chiefs to 2-0 on the season.

“It was not pretty but big ups to our defense. Young cats stepped up,” Mahomes said. “They played a great game against a great quarterback.

“There are going to be games like this. Hopefully we keep finding ways to win them.”

Justin Hebert completed 33 of 48 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns for the Chargers but it was his interception that proved pivotal as LA fell to 1-1.

Kansas City rookie cornerback Jaylen Watson intercepted a Herbert pass and returned the ball 99 yards for a touchdown to put the Chiefs ahead 24-17 with just over 10 minutes remaining.

The Chiefs denied Los Angeles just when it seemed the Chargers were going to grab the lead and kept that momentum, forcing two punts before Matt Ammendola added a 31-yard field goal for Kansas City.

Herbert, who had x-rays after the game following a hard hit to the midsection, then drove the Chargers downfield for another touchdown, flipping a 7-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Palmer with 71 seconds remaining to pull LA within the final margin.

But an onside kick attempt by the Chargers failed and Kansas City ran out the final seconds.

“It’s a division rival so it’s huge,” Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said of the triumph. “We want to win the division to get into the playoffs. Other than that it’s 2-0. Off to a good start.”

Herbert threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Mike Williams in the third quarter but Mahomes answered with a 41-yard touchdown throw to Justin Watson and Ammendola’s 19-yard field goal to open the fourth quarter lifted Kansas City level at 17-17.

Mahomes threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Jerick McKinnon in the second quarter that lifted the Chiefs within 10-7 at halftime.

Herbert flipped a 1-yard touchdown pass to Zander Horvath on the first play of the second quarter to give the Chargers a 10-0 edge after Dustin Hopkins kicked a 31-yard field goal for Los Angeles in the first quarter.