Mahomes Injured As Chargers Knock Chiefs 16-13 From Playoffs/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL tear as the Kansas City Chiefs lost 16-13 to the Los Angeles Chargers. The defeat eliminates the Chiefs from playoff contention for the first time in over a decade. Justin Herbert, playing with a broken hand, led a gritty comeback that sealed the win.
Mahomes ACL Injury Quick Looks
- Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes tears ACL late in loss
- Chargers edge Chiefs 16-13 to clinch 10th win
- Mahomes injured while scrambling in final minutes
- Gardner Minshew replaces Mahomes, throws game-ending INT
- Chargers now 5-0 in the AFC West division
- Chiefs miss playoffs for first time since 2014
- Kelce declines media questions, visibly frustrated
- Justin Herbert leads comeback despite broken left hand
- Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker hits clutch 49-yard FG
- Chiefs finish with 6-8 record and QB uncertainty
Mahomes Injured As Chargers Knock Chiefs 16-13 From Playoffs
Deep Look
The Kansas City Chiefs’ playoff dreams came to a devastating end Sunday, not just on the scoreboard but in the locker room, where quarterback Patrick Mahomes was diagnosed with a torn ACL. The injury occurred late in the fourth quarter of a tightly contested 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers — a game that delivered a crushing double blow to a franchise long associated with postseason success.
In a chilling moment for Chiefs fans, Mahomes was seen limping off the field, a towel over his head, after being taken down awkwardly while throwing the ball away near the sideline. Defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand brought him down with just under two minutes to play, and the two-time MVP immediately grabbed at his left knee.
“It didn’t look good,” admitted Chiefs head coach Andy Reid in a somber postgame press conference.
A short time later, the team confirmed the worst: “An MRI has confirmed that Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes sustained a torn ACL in his left knee in today’s game. Patrick and the club are currently exploring surgical options.”
Mahomes took to social media shortly after, writing: “Don’t know why this had to happen. And not going to lie it hurts. But all we can do now is Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again.”
The quarterback’s injury capped off a nightmare day for Kansas City. With playoff hopes already hanging by a thread, Mahomes’ exit marked the symbolic and literal end to the Chiefs’ season. Gardner Minshew stepped in and completed a few throws to keep hope alive, but his last pass — a heave to Travis Kelce — was picked off by Chargers safety Derwin James, sealing the game and Kansas City’s postseason fate.
James, who has faced Kelce numerous times over the years, leapt for the ball with 20 seconds left, snatching away the Chiefs’ final shot.
The Chargers improved to 10-4 with the win and remain undefeated in divisional play at 5-0. Head coach Jim Harbaugh lauded his team’s toughness and unity: “This is a ball team. Starting to think this is my favorite ball team that I’ve ever been on. None better than this team.”
Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert, playing through a broken left hand, delivered a resilient performance. Though visibly limited, he guided his team to 13 unanswered points after trailing 13-3 late in the second quarter.
Herbert sparked the comeback by leading a 60-yard drive just before halftime, capped by KeAndre Lambert-Smith’s first career touchdown catch. Kicker Cameron Dicker tied the game early in the third and later booted a 49-yard field goal — the game-winner — with under three minutes left.
On the other side, the Chiefs were plagued once again by inconsistency and injuries. Mahomes opened the game with a 12-yard rushing touchdown, followed by two Harrison Butker field goals to give Kansas City a 13-3 lead. But the offense faltered in the second half, culminating in Mahomes’ red zone interception on a jump ball to Kareem Hunt — picked off by rookie linebacker Daiyan Henley.
Kelce, a pillar of the team’s success, declined to answer questions after the game, visibly frustrated with the team’s collapse. “Sorry guys, it’s not the time,” he told reporters.
The game carried echoes of Week 1, when the Chargers defeated the Chiefs in Brazil to open the season. That loss set a tone of uncertainty that persisted throughout the year. Sunday’s defeat finalized the arc — a rare year when Kansas City failed to control its destiny.
Now sitting at 6-8, the Chiefs will finish the season without their franchise quarterback and without a path to the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Minshew is expected to start the remaining three games, including a Christmas night showdown with the Denver Broncos.
“I’ll do whatever the coaches ask of me,” Minshew said. “We’ll go try to win some games.”
As the Chargers celebrated on the field at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs were left to reckon with a season that went from hopeful to harrowing in a matter of weeks. For Kansas City, the end of the Mahomes era — at least temporarily — has come not with a bang, but with a brutal twist of fate.
Injuries Report
Chargers:
- WR Quentin Johnson (groin) inactive
- S R.J. Mickens exited with a shoulder injury
Chiefs:
- CB Trent McDuffie (knee) inactive
- WR Tyquan Thornton (concussion protocol)
- RT Jaylon Moore (knee)
Thornton’s late-game 20-yard reception ended with a brutal hit by Tony Jefferson, triggering a scuffle. Jefferson was ejected, and both Henley and James had to intervene.
Upcoming Games
Chargers: Travel to face Dallas next Sunday
Chiefs: Visit the Tennessee Titans next Sunday
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