Chiefs win AFC West for 9th straight season after winning field goal

The Kansas City Chiefs are the AFC West winners for the ninth straight season, defeating their division opponent, the Los Angeles Chargers, with a game-winning field goal.

The 19-17 victory moved the Chiefs to 12-1 on the season, which was a big win to not only win the division, but also create separation from the Buffalo Bills for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Meanwhile, the Chargers are now 8-5 on the season as they continue to chase a playoff spot with four games remaining now.

This low-scoring affair saw a long drive from Justin Herbert and the Chargers offense that ate up 8:29 of fourth-quarter time, but it resulted in a field goal to make it 17-16.

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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (8) celebrates after scoring against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Denny Medley-Imagn Images)

There was more than enough time for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense to respond, and as we've seen too many times to count, that's exactly what happened at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium .

On 3rd and 10 on the ensuing drive, Mahomes escaped pressure from the Chargers and found his rookie receiver Xavier Worthy for a 14-yard strike, where he returned to the ball and secured it to extend the 'training.

A scramble from Mahomes and a few runs from Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt would continue to generate yards and clock, as the Chiefs moved closer to the end zone for kicker Matthew Wright, who was perfect with three field goals, including a 50-yarder, made before entering the winning play.

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On 3rd and 7 from the Chargers' 20-yard line, it was imperative that Los Angeles stopped the Chiefs to force a field goal and give Herbert another chance to get a game-winning drive of his own.

But Mahomes' magic happened once again, as he came out of the pocket, made a tackler miss and returned the ball to Travis Kelce for the first down.

That allowed the Chiefs to run down the clock until late in the fourth quarter, where Wright knocked the ball off the left upright from 31 yards out, but he was inside just enough to stick with three points and to victory.

“Doink for the division!” » shouted NBC play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico from the broadcast booth.

It took a while for anyone to find the end zone in this game, but it finally happened around halftime when DeAndre Hopkins caught a short pass from Mahomes and took it nine yards to carry the score at 13-0.

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) defends against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Denny Medley-Imagn Images)

The Chargers, who had to play without Herbert's trusty rookie Ladd McConkey, couldn't get going with five consecutive punts in the first half.

However, they turned things around in the second half with back-to-back touchdown drives to make this one a true battle of the AFC West.

First, it was the first drive of the second half, as Herbert dissected the Chiefs defense on 13 plays where Gus Edwards, taking over the starting role with JK Dobbins injured, scored from three yards out.

Then, after forcing a three-and-out on the Chiefs, Herbert needed just four plays to finally find Quentin Johnston for the four-yard score and take a 14-13 lead.

But when Mahomes and the Chiefs have the ball at the end of a close game this season, it just hasn't worked out for the opponent.

Mahomes was 24 of 37 for 210 yards with his only touchdown pass, while rushing for 17 yards in the victory. Pacheco, who has taken on more of a leading role as he recovers from injury.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) returns to pass against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Denny Medley-Imagn Images)

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Kelce had the most yards by a Chiefs player with 45, while Worthy finished with 41 and Hopkins with 32.

For the Chargers, Josh Palmer had a game-high 78 yards on six receptions while tight end Stone Smartt, who saw a larger role with Will Dissly injured during the game, had 54 yards on three catches. Johnston also finished with 48 yards on five receptions.

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