KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes hadn’t watched the tape of Kansas City’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers from last December — when he tore ligaments in his left knee and the Chiefs were eliminated from postseason contention — until just this week.
Even then, Mahomes didn’t spend a whole lot of time dwelling on it.
“We’ve gotten by that pretty quickly,” he said.
That was evident in the rematch Sunday, a comprehensive 22-6 victory that kept Kansas City one of the NFL’s final three unbeatens, and kept the Chargers one of the final two teams that have yet to win a game.
“Last year to me put football in perspective,” said Mahomes, who tallied 272 passing yards in his 100th career win. “We played in so many Super Bowls, and even last year when stuff wasn’t going right, it was like, ‘We’re going to figure it out and make it happen.’ “
The Chiefs never figured it out, but they sure seem to have this year.
Much of it has to do with Kenneth Walker III, their big free-agent acquisition, who ran for 128 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday. Xavier Worthy added seven catches for 73 yards, and Travis Kelce hauled in five passes for 53, helping the Chiefs (5-0) overcome injuries to Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton that had thinned their wide receiver corps.
“It’s great to win in this league. And it’s hard. It’s a hard thing to do,” said Chiefs Coach Andy Reid, who improved to 23-5 in regular-season games following a bye. “They’re not always going to be pretty, but you have to battle through.”
Kansas City remained with San Francisco and Minnesota — both 5-0 and on their bye — as the league’s only undefeated teams.
The game was hardly pretty on either side: The Chiefs had to overcome a myriad of short-yardage shortcomings and Harrison Butker missed an extra point 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 an interception. The Chargers ended up with 259 yards of total offense.
“It’s obviously been tough,” Herbert said, “and now there’s nothing we can do to look back and change what has happened.”
The Chargers, fresh off consecutive 11-win seasons, are mired in their worst start since 2000, when they matched their 1975 team by losing their first 11 games. The only other team that has yet to win this season is Miami, which is 0-5 and had the week off.
“There’s no justification,” Chargers Coach Jim Harbaugh said. “There’s nothing I would say that wouldn’t sound like an excuse. I’m opposed to that to the core, and pointing fingers. But I believe this is a team game. Definitely, offensively, we need to evaluate. We need to look at it all — everything we’re doing, how we’re doing it.”
Kansas City largely dominated Los Angeles from start to finish.
Walker, who leads the NFL in rushing, showed exactly why as they were adding to their early 3-0 lead. He maneuvered 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 touchdown plunge later in the half, bouncing away from a defensive tackle and finding a crease into the end zone.
“The first guy never tackles him,” Mahomes said with a smile.
The banged-up 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 of the season. Later, the Chargers quarterback ran right into the arms of Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton on third down, forcing Los Angeles to a punt.
The offensive ineptitude wasn’t entirely Herbert’s fault, though. The Chargers were missing offensive linemen Joe Alt and Kayode Awosika to injuries, along with leading receiver Tre’ Harris. And the problems compounded in the second quarter, when wide receiver Ladd McConkey — just back from missing a game with a foot problem — was declared out with a concussion.
The Chargers tried to mount a second-half comeback, driving inside the Kansas City 15. But a run went nowhere and Herbert threw a pair of incompletions, forcing them to kick their second field goal, and the Chiefs controlled the game from there.
“You know,” Herbert said, “all those guys in that locker room care about each other — about this team — and we have the right guys. It hasn’t gone our way, but I know they’re going to continue to show up and give their best effort, and that’s all you can ask for.”
Chiefs cornerback Chris Roland-Wallace was ejected for throwing a punch at Chargers right tackle Alex Harkey early in the fourth quarter.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) catches a pass and is tackled by Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley, rear, during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
WNBA player Caitlin Clark, from left, Este Haim, and Taylor Swift watch play between the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Adds Este Haim
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton, left, as Herbert runs the ball during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell (34) runs the ball as Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton (32) gives chase during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)