KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Kenneth Walker ran for 128 yards and two touchdowns, Patrick Mahomes finished with 272 passing yards and the Kansas City Chiefs remained one of the NFL’s bottom three undefeated with a 22-6 victory over the injury-plagued Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Xavier Worthy had seven catches for 73 yards and Travis Kelce hauled in five passes for 53, helping the Chiefs (5-0) survive without injured receivers Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton while keeping the struggling Chargers (0-6) winless.
Kansas City joined San Francisco and Minnesota – both 5-0 and on a bye – as the league’s only undefeated teams.
It wasn’t a pretty game for either side: Kansas City had to overcome a series of short-yardage lapses and Harrison Butker missed a PAT and a field goal attempt, while Los Angeles turned the ball over twice in another dismal offensive performance.
Justin Herbert finished with 204 passing yards with one interception and the Chargers finished with 259 total offensive yards.
It was the first matchup between the AFC West rivals since December, when Mahomes tore ligaments in his left knee during a game that eliminated Kansas City from the playoffs. The Chargers won both of their games against the Chiefs last season.
New season, very different result.
Walker, who leads the NFL in rushing, showed exactly why as the Chiefs increased their lead to 3-0. He burst through a hole at the line of scrimmage, ran away from the last defender and scored from 33 yards out to extend Kansas City’s advantage.
Walker added a 2-yard plunge later in the half, bouncing off a defensive tackle and finding a crease in the end zone.
The Chargers, meanwhile, had no answers when they had the ball.
Herbert threw an inexplicable interception to Jack Cochrane to end a drive, his league-leading eighth pick of the season. Later, the Chargers quarterback rushed into the arms of Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton on third down, forcing Los Angeles into a punt.
The offensive ineptitude was not entirely Herbert’s fault, however. The Chargers were missing offensive linemen Joe Alt and Kayode Awosika due to injuries, as well as senior receiver Tre’ Harris. And the problems worsened in the second quarter, when wide receiver Ladd McConkey – who had just returned from missing a game with a foot issue – was ruled out with a concussion.
The Chargers tried to come back in the second half, driving inside the Kansas City 15. But a point came to nothing and Herbert threw two incompletions, forcing them to kick their second field goal, and the Chiefs controlled the game from there.
Chiefs CB Chris Roland-Wallace was ejected for throwing a punch at Chargers RT Alex Harkey early in the fourth quarter.
Chargers: CB Deane Leonard (concussion) left in the second half. … S Derwin James Jr. (hamstring), CB Donte Jackson (hamstring) and EDGE Bud Dupree (neck) were inactive.
Chiefs: RT Jaylon Moore (concussion) left in the second quarter. … TE Travis Kelce left briefly in the first half with an ankle injury. … CB Nohl Williams missed a few plays early with a shoulder injury, but finished the game.
Chargers: Have a well-deserved week off.
Chiefs: Visit Seattle next Sunday evening.
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