The Chargers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, 31-21, in the Bolts' final game of the season despite Mike Williams eclipsing 1,000 yards receiving on the season and Keenan Allen setting a Chargers single-season reception record.
After the Chiefs kicked off to start the game, Kansas City converted two tackles for loss on the Chargers' seven-play drive, causing the Chargers to punt.
In the Chiefs' first drive of the game, quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw deep left looking for wide receiver Sammy Watkins only to have the pass intercepted by Casey Hayward. However, an offside penalty was called on Chargers' linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, bringing the ball back.
Three plays later, Mahomes once again went deep looking for Tyreek Hill only to be intercepted by Adrian Phillips, who through multiple evasive moves and stiff-arms, managed to make it all the way to the end zone. However, another penalty flag was thrown, this time for an illegal substitution penalty against the Bolts.
The drive ended with a third down tackle by linebacker Drue Tranquill, causing the Chiefs to go for a 40-yard field goal attempt by kicker Harrison Butker. The kick was converted successfully, putting the Chiefs up 3-0.
On the Bolts' ensuing drive, two critical catches by wide receiver Mike Williams helped bring the Bolts to the Chiefs' 12-yard line on 3rd and 10.
Quarterback Philip Rivers then found Keenan Allen in the far left corner of the end zone for a Chargers touchdown. After kicker Michael Badgley converted the extra point, the Chargers found themselves leading 7-3. The touchdown catch was the thirty-fourth of Allen's career, a total which is tied for tenth in team history with former Chargers wide receiver Malcolm Floyd.
On the Chiefs' next drive, an illegal use of hands penalty on Eric Fisher pushed the Chiefs to third down and 24. On the next play, Chiefs running back Damien Williams was pushed out of bounds by Tranquill, causing the Chiefs to punt.
Next, the Bolts would go three and out.
The Chiefs would quickly take advantage of their next possession, as Mahomes found Mecole Hardman for a 30-yard pass, then connected with Demarcus Robinson for a 24-yard touchdown pass on the very next play. Butker would make the extra point and Kansas City would take a 10-7 lead.
In the closing moments of the first half, Allen helped keep the Chargers' next drive alive with a 10-yard catch on third down. Rivers would then pass deep right to the end zone looking for Williams, a pass that was intercepted by Tyrann Mathieu. Time would expire in the first half as the Chargers would trail at halftime.
In the first play of the second half, Mahomes would look for Tyreek Hill on a short right pass, only to be intercepted by Chargers' cornerback Michael Davis, who would evade multiple tackles after the catch bringing the Chargers' to the Chiefs' 21-yard line.
Two plays later, running back Melvin Gordon would secure a 5-yard rushing touchdown, and after Badgley made another extra point, the Chargers regained the lead, 14-10.
However, the Chargers' lead would be short-lived after Mecole Hardman completed a 104-yard kick return touchdown. After a successful extra point, the Chiefs took back their lead, 17-14.
The Chargers had a sense of urgency on their next drive, electing to go for it on fourth down and inches on their own 23-yard line, an attempt that Gordon successfully completed with a 3-yard carry. However, later in the drive Rivers would be sacked by Terrell Suggs which would force the Bolts to punt.
On the second play of the Chiefs' next drive, Damien Williams shook off multiple Bolts for an 84-yard rushing touchdown, and after a successful extra point, the Chiefs extended their lead to 24-14.
The Chargers would go deep into Chiefs territory on their ensuing drive, as the Chargers would go for it on fourth and one on the Chiefs 5-yard line, an effort Kansas City successfully stopped as the third quarter ended moments later.
The Chiefs began the fourth quarter with the lead and possession. However, after multiple incomplete passes from Mahomes, the Chiefs punted.
With head coach Anthony Lynn electing to go for it on fourth down for the third time on the afternoon on the Bolts' next drive, Austin Ekeler was able to successfully carry the ball two yards securing the first down. Later in the drive, Rivers completed an 8-yard short pass to tight end Hunter Henry for a touchdown. The 14-play drive lasted over seven minutes and after the extra point was secured, the Chargers closed the Chiefs' lead to 24-21.
Mahomes and the Chiefs bounced back on the next drive, as Mahomes' pass deep left for 47-yards to Tyreek Hill and a Damien Williams 7-yard rush secured a touchdown. After completing the extra point, the Chiefs took a 31-21 lead.
On the Chargers next possession, Rivers' pass was intercepted by Daniel Sorenson. The Chiefs would run down the clock, win the game and clinch the second seed in the AFC.
Mike Williams would finish the game with 38 yards receiving, helping the wideout reach the 1,000 yard receiving plateau. Williams joins Allen as the first duo of Chargers to reach that mark since 2009.
Meanwhile, with 43 yards receiving on the afternoon, Ekeler would fall seven yards short of the 1,000 yard receiving mark.
Allen also had multiple milestones of his own. With nine catches, Allen achieved the 100 catch milestone for the second time in his career, the last of which came in 2017. The total is also the most receptions by a Charger in franchise history in a single season.
With the loss, the Chargers finish the 2019 season with a 5-11 record.
