5 Takeaways: How Chargers Physicality Shined in Sunday's Win Over Chiefs

Dec 15, 2025 at 04:23 PM

Omar Navarro

Jr. Writer

The Chargers are 10-4 after Sunday's 16-13 thrilling win over the Chiefs.

Here are five takeaways from Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh's Monday press conference.

1. A physical victory

It was a classic late-season, physical battle Sunday in Kansas City.

And it was Chargers who came out on top by displaying their physicality in all phases.

Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh came away pleased with the way the team imposed itself Monday after rewatching the film.

After all, it is December football.

"I thought our team did a really good job in that regard," Harbaugh said. "In all three phases, it was one of those December games, division game."

He later added: "Great team win. So many contributed and played at a really high level. Clutch performances. Very, very strong men. Very tough men."

The physicality was apparent in all facets of the game as it wore on.

The Chargers limited the Chiefs to just 239 yards on Sunday, Kansas City's lowest total of the season and fewest yards in a game since Week 9 of the 2021 season.

That included limiting the Chiefs ground game to 49 yards on 21 attempts in what was dominant play on the line of scrimmage.

"Da'Shawn Hand had a dominant game, so did Teair Tart," Harbaugh said. "Teair is playing his best football, Da'Shawn is playing great. Our guys up front did a great job controlling the run game. That was a great run wall."

It was no different in the pass defense either.

The Bolts coverage unit was physical down the field, coming away with a pair of interceptions — one by Daiyan Henley and the game-sealer by Derwin James, Jr.

"The playmakers were incredible," Harbaugh said. "Daiyan Henley, incredible game by him, spying the quarterback, all over the field, makes an interception like a DB.

"Derwin James, all over the field," Harbaugh added. "The way Jesse moved him from position to position, put him in positions to be successful. He played amazing … down-in and down-out, setting the tone and playing great, great, football."

The offensive unit was much of the same, with Justin Herbert’s timely throws and churning out the tough yards on the ground with Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal.

Even amid the injuries that have hit the offensive unit, the overarching mentality on the offensive side of the ball has been on display no matter who steps in.

"The guys that have stepped in, we haven't altered the game plan… I see that from our guys," Harbaugh said.

He later added: "There's just a mentality there, you think of yourself as a starter and you prepare for yourself to be in there. It's an opportunity, 'Let me get my chance.' We've seen that unfold this year in very, very good way. Guys stepping up."

There was a lot to like about what the group displayed in Kansas City.

"Everybody fighting for their playoff lives," Harbaugh said. "Huge challenge and I thought our guys acquitted themselves very well."

2. Bouncing back post-bye

The Chargers have been on a roll since their bye week.

Having won three straight games, including two against the two most recent Super Bowl participants, the Bolts sit at 10-4 and have now won six of their last seven games.

It's safe to say the Chargers Head Coach has been more than pleased with how his team has responded since the week off in this pivotal point of the regular season.

"It's been really good," Harbaugh said. "I think there's just been a really great focus, one day at a time, one play at a time, one game at a time.

"It's resonated throughout the entire team and organization," Harbaugh added. "It's been a laser focus on that."

It has shown up in the way the Chargers have been able to win these close battles.

Whether it was strong offensive performances or stellar defensive showings, the group has stepped up and put the team in a good position in mid-December.

Harbaugh said there's been a lot of factors into why the unit has responded the way they have, but made sure to credit two of the biggest driving forces that have led the way.

"A lot reasons," Harbaugh said. "Our team does a tremendous job of taking it one day at a time, one play at a time, one game at a time.

"Two incredible leaders, Justin Herbert and Derwin James deserve the most credit for setting the tone," Harbaugh added. "That's how they go about each day, each game, each play."

It goes without saying how much both Herbert and James mean to the Chargers on the field, but their impact off of it has shined just as much in this crucial stretch according to Harbaugh.

"Not only are they great leaders, they're great playmakers," Harbaugh said. "Those two set the tone. I would give that the most weight for why."

He later added: "Like any coach, good players. There's no good coaches without good players. Been saying it since the day I got here. Nobody like Derwin James and Justin Herbert that I've ever been associated with."

Sunday's win against the Chiefs now has the Bolts in position to potentially clinch a playoff spot in Week 16 as they currently sit in a playoff spot as the No. 5 seed and first Wild Card team in the AFC playoff picture.

According to The Athletic, the Chargers have a 96 percent chance to make the playoffs. ESPN has the Bolts with a 95 percent chance to make the dance while NFL Next Gen Stats has those odds at 92 percent.

But all of that doesn't take away from what the team has in front of them.

The mindset of one week at a time has helped them through this hot streak, and it's much of the same with the attention now turned to the Cowboys.

"That was great winning fun. It was a happy flight home," Harbaugh said. "Now we just get back together today, Monday, go to work to make darn sure we can do it again.

"Definitely the most important game of the year is the next one," Harbaugh added. "So let's go win the next game."

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3. An unselfish front

The Chargers pass rushers have been getting after it.

The trend of explosive plays along the defensive line continued on Sunday against the Chiefs, finishing the day with five total sacks and nine tackles for loss.

They also totaled 27 total pressures, their second-most in a game this season according to Pro Football Focus.

The driving force has been the play of the edge rushers, as Tuli Tuipulotu, Khalil Mack and Odafe Oweh all rank in the top 10 of total pressures among edge rushers over the last two weeks.

But it's not just the edge rushers that have been wreaking havoc on the backfield and making it all happen, as Harbaugh detailed, it has also seen a total group effort to make it happen.

"Last week I said it after the Eagles game, I said unselfish. Unselfish in the pass rushers, in the games, in the coordination, pass rush and coverage," Harbaugh said. "Going for the sack is what it means, everybody doing their job, doing their assignment, playing team defense, running to the ball."

The interior defensive line has been doing the dirty work in the run and the pass as Hand finished the game with four pressures and two run stops, while Tart added one of his own.

Whether it's games or stunts up front, there has been a willingness to open up things for others that has showed up big time on tape for the Chargers defense — and it's been a game-changer in all facets for the ascending unit.

"Definitely the front, not just the edges, there was dominant play in the middle of the defense," Harbaugh said.