Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce help Chiefs rally to 17-10 win over Chargers

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes is going through a variety of situations in his 100th regular-season start.

Although the Kansas City Chiefs trailed the Los Angeles Chargers 10-0 after more than 11 minutes in Sunday's game, Mahomes knew there was plenty of time to bounce back.

On a day when he passed for 245 yards and a touchdown while rediscovering his connection with Travis Kelce, Mahomes singled out his defense as the main reason the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs rallied for a 17-10 victory and first since 4-0 2020.

“We weren't playing well. But I think the best thing is, nobody talks about it and they start now, but our defense is really good,” said Mahomes, who completed 19 of 29 passes. “They know how to close the door and keep us in the game. . Then they believe the offense will eventually find a way to score enough points.”

Kansas City has won six straight against the Chargers. It also has 11 straight road wins against its AFC West rivals, the longest active winning streak by a visiting squad and tied for third all-time.

“I'm proud of our guys for hanging in there. It could have easily gone the other way there, but the guys supported each other,” coach Andy Reid said.

The Chiefs bounce back after losing a wide receiver Rushie Rice with possible season-ending knee injury Rice was hit by Mahomes in the first quarter when both players were chasing Chargers cornerback Christian Fulton during an interception return.

The Chargers (2-2) scored 10 points off a pair of Chiefs turnovers — capped by Carson Steele and Mahomes' fifth interception of the season — but that was it.

Los Angeles has been three-and-out in four of its eight over the last three quarters. Nevertheless, the Chargers had a chance to take the lead early in the fourth quarter when they drove to the Kansas City 3-yard line, but a pass from tight end Hayden Hurst to tight end Justin Herbert fell incomplete after Chris Jones and Felix Anudike-Uzomah applied pressure. On fourth-and-1.

After seven minutes, Perrin in the community keeps Kansas City moving forward Run up the middle with a 2-yard touchdown.

The Chargers, who won their first two games behind a strong running game, finished with just 55 yards rushing and averaged 2.3 yards per carry.

“Justin needs to get a little more time. Some of the throws he made, some of the plays he made were unbelievable,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “We'll see how we respond from here, and when we come back (from the bye week) it will be like starting the season all over again.”

Mahomes completed passes to six players. Kelce had a season-high seven receptions for 89 yards Set the franchise's career receptions recordFellow tight end Tony Gonzalez passed.

Xavier Worthy had three catches for 73 yards, including a haul A 54-yard pass from Mahomes in the second quarter for the Chiefs' first touchdown.

Kansas City's defense also took advantage of the hampered Herbert, who was playing with limited mobility due to a high ankle sprain, and a patchwork offensive line due to injuries to Rashaon Slater and Joe Alt.

“We were able to build some pressure there in the second quarter and the second half and get those guys going,” linebacker Drew Tranquil said. “We knew they were a little beat up on the O-line, and there might be some communication, chemistry issues. We were able to take advantage of that down the stretch.”

Herbert was sacked twice by Jones and had 10 hits on 31 dropbacks. He completed seven passes in the first quarter, but was 9 of 20 the rest of the way

“They do a good job of following the passer. We expected it, we knew it, and I thought we were preparing for it,” said Herbert, who was 16 of 16 for 179 yards and a touchdown. “I thought the offensive line did a great job stepping up, blocking, doing what they needed to do, but it's definitely got to be better on us.”

After Steele's fumble, Herbert completed all four of his passes on Los Angeles' opening 10-play drive, including one 7-yard strike to Ladd McConkey in the back of the end zone. Herbert took a big hit from Chiefs defensive end Malik Herring as he threw, but he kept the ball in a tight spot as safety Brian Cook turned his back.

Cameron Dicker's 50-yard field goal extended the Chargers' lead to 10-0. The drive began after Fulton intercepted Mahomes' pass to Kells and returned it 29 yards up the right sideline.

Rice punches the ball loose behind Fulton and Chiefs center Creed Humphrey recovers. But a video review showed Rice was out of bounds when he forced a fumble, allowing L.A. to keep the ball.

Kansas City had a pair of turnovers and went three-and-out on four of its first five possessions before getting on track late in the second quarter.

The Chiefs took over at their 46 after forcing the Chargers to go three-and-out, and Mahomes immediately connected with Worthy for a deep touchdown. The capable, speedy rookie receiver who was the 28th overall pick in April's draft blew past Fulton on a pass and caught it 3 yards deep in the end zone on a pass from Mahomes that went 64 yards in the air.

Harrison Butker's 37-yard field goal tied the game at 10 midway through the third quarter.