| Chargers–Chiefs rivalry | |
| Team1: | Los Angeles Chargers |
| Team2: | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Team1logo: | Los Angeles Chargers 2020 wordmark.svg |
| Team2logo: | Kansas City Chiefs wordmark.svg |
| First Contested: | September 10, 1960: Chargers 21, Texans 20 |
| Mostrecent: | January 7, 2024: Chiefs 13, Chargers 12 |
| Nextmeeting: | September 29, 2024 |
| Total: | 128 (including the playoffs) |
| Largestvictory: | Chargers: 31–0 (2010); Chiefs: 49–6 (1964) |
| Currentstreak: | Chiefs: 5 (2021–present) |
| Longeststreak: | Chargers: 6 (1979–1981); Chiefs: 9 (2014–2018) |
| Series: | Chiefs: 69–58–1 (including the playoffs) |
| Postseason: | Chargers: 1–0 |
| Section Header: | Playoff and Championship Success |
| Section Info: | AFL Championships (4)
Super Bowl Appearances (7)
AFC Championship Game Appearances (8)
AFL Western Division Championships (7) AFC West Division Championships (24)
AFL Wild Card Berths (2)
AFC Wild Card Berths (12)
|
The Chargers–Chiefs rivalry is an American football rivalry between the National Football League (NFL)'s Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs. Since the American Football League (AFL) was established in 1960, the Chargers and the Chiefs have shared the same division, first being the AFL Western Conference, and since the AFL–NFL merger, the American Football Conference (AFC) West. Following the Raiders' move to Las Vegas (Chiefs) and the Rams' return to Los Angeles (Seahawks and 49ers), they are now the farthest apart two teams in the same division.
Kansas City is one of four teams with a winning record against all divisional opponents with 100-plus head-to-head games played (along with the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and Miami Dolphins). The Pittsburgh Steelers join those four in that category of 50-plus head-to-head games played. The Los Angeles Chargers are one of only three teams with a losing record against all divisional opponents with 100-plus head-to-head games played (along with the Detroit Lions and New York Jets). This holds as of the end of the 2022 season.
In recent seasons, Kansas City has dominated the rivalry with 17 wins in the last 20 contests. Kansas City also currently holds a ten game road winning streak against the Chargers.
Season: 1960 (Week 1)
Score: Dallas Texans 20–21 Los Angeles Chargers[1]
Notability: The first regular season game for both franchises. Dallas led 20–7 after three quarters, but Jack Kemp ran for one touchdown and threw for another in a comeback win.[2]
Season: 1964 (Week 14)
Score: Kansas City Chiefs 49–6 San Diego Chargers[3]
Notability: Kansas City's 43-point win represents the widest margin of victory in the series. San Diego came into the game having already clinched the division, but turned the ball over six times. Len Dawson completed 17 of 28 passes for 220 yards, 4 touchdowns and no interceptions.[4]
Season: 1975 (Week 12)
Score: San Diego Chargers 28–20 Kansas City Chiefs[5]
Notability: San Diego entered the game with an 0–11 record, but defeated the 5–6 Chiefs to avoid a winless season. They scored fourteen unanswered points in the final quarter; quarterback Dan Fouts was intercepted three times but scored the clinching touchdown on a 9-yard run.[6]
Season: 1978 (Week 11)
Score: Kansas City Chiefs 23–29 (OT) San Diego Chargers[7]
Notability: Won by a Charger touchdown as time expired in overtime. San Diego reached the Kansas City 14 near the end of the extra period, then almost ran out of time when Fouts mistook the play clock for the game clock. Fouts found John Jefferson in the back of the end zone for the game-winner as the last seconds ran off.[8]
Season: 1985 (Week 16)
Score: San Diego Chargers 34–38 Kansas City Chiefs[9]
Notability: Stephone Paige broke the NFL single-season receiving yards record. Paige caught 8 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns – a 56-yarder from Todd Blackledge and an 84-yarder from Bill Kenney. Kansas City led 35–3 in the 2nd quarter and 38–13 early in the final quarter, before three unanswered Charger touchdowns left them just short of a comeback win.[10]
Season: 1986 (Week 7)
Score: San Diego Chargers 41–42 Kansas City Chiefs[11]
Notability: The highest-scoring game in the series. The Chiefs scored three return touchdowns in the second quarter, twice on interceptions by Lloyd Burress and once from a fumble recovered by Kevin Ross; Leslie O'Neal added an interception return touchdown for San Diego in the same quarter. The Chargers went on to outgain Kansas City by 512 offensive yards to 222, but still lost when kicker Rolf Benirschke missed a 35-yard field goal in the final minute.[12]
Season: 1992 (Wildcard playoffs)
Score: Kansas City Chiefs 0–17 San Diego Chargers[13]
Notability: To date, the only playoff meeting between the teams. In rainy conditions, neither team scored in the opening half. Marion Butts opened the scoring in the 3rd quarter with a 54-yard touchdown run, and the Charger defense completed the shutout. Kansas City had swept the Chargers during the regular season, but finished with a 10–6 record to the Chargers' 11–5, hence the playoff game took place in San Diego.[14]
Season: 1995 (Week 6)
Score: San Diego Chargers 23–29 (OT) Kansas City Chiefs[15]
Notability: Tamarick Vanover scored the first overtime punt return touchdown in NFL history. In a close-fought Monday Night Football game, San Diego led 23–16 after a John Carney field goal with barely a minute left, before Steve Bono led a quick touchdown drive to force overtime. Vanover won the game in the extra period when he took a Darren Bennett punt back 86 yards for a touchdown.[16] [17]
Season: 1998 (Week 3)
Score: San Diego Chargers 7–23 Kansas City Chiefs[18]
Notability: Rookie Ryan Leaf produced a passer rating of zero in his third start for the Chargers, having won the first two. Leaf finished with 1 completion from 15 attempts, for 4 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions. He also lost three fumbles and was sacked twice for the loss of 23 yards.[19]
Season: 2000 (Week 13)
Score: Kansas City Chiefs 16–17 San Diego Chargers[20]
Notability: As they had done in 1975, the 0–11 Chargers beat the 5–6 Chiefs to end the prospect of a winless season. Leaf threw two touchdowns to Freddie Jones in the first half to put San Diego up 14–3, but had an interception run back for a touchdown in the second half as Kansas City came back to lead 16–14. Carney converted a 54-yard field goal with two minutes left, and San Diego won when Warren Moon threw incomplete on 4th down.[21]
Season: 2001 (Week 8)
Score: Kansas City Chiefs 25–20 San Diego Chargers[22]
Notability: Quarterback Drew Brees, a future Super Bowl MVP, made his NFL debut for the Chargers after Doug Flutie was injured. Brees entered the game 16–0 behind; the deficit became 19–0 before he led the Chargers to 20 unanswered points. Kansas City responded with a game-winning Tony Richardson touchdown run in the final two minutes. Brees completed 15 of 27 passes for 221 yards, with a touchdown and no interceptions.[23]
Season: 2006 (Week 15)
Score: Kansas City Chiefs 9–20 San Diego Chargers[24]
Notability: LaDainian Tomlinson broke the NFL single-season records for rushing touchdowns (28) and points scored (186). He also extended his single-season record for tital touchdowns to 31, while rushing 25 times for 199 yards, and scoring on runs of 15 and 85 yards.[25]
Season: 2008 (Week 15)
Score: San Diego Chargers 22–21 Kansas City Chiefs[26]
Notability: The Chargers (5–8 entering the game) would have been eliminated from playoff contention with a loss, and Kansas City (2–11) led 21–3 in the 3rd quarter. The score was still 21–10 entering the final two minutes, but Philip Rivers threw two touchdowns either side of a successful onside kick, for a one-point lead. Chiefs kicker Connor Barth missed a 50-yard field goal as time expired, and San Diego eventually won the AFC West.[27] [28]
Season: 2013 (Week 17)
Score: Kansas City Chiefs 24–27 (OT) San Diego Chargers[29]
Notability: San Diego needed a win or tie to make the playoffs. The Chiefs, who had already clinched a playoff berth, rested many of their starters, but still led 24–14 entering the final quarter. After the Chargers tied the game, Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop had a chance to eliminate them, but missed a 41-yard field goal with 4 seconds left and San Diego won in overtime.[30]
Season: 2014 (Week 17)
Score: San Diego Chargers 7–19 Kansas City Chiefs[31]
Notability: At 9–6, San Diego needed a win to make the playoffs against the 8–7 Chiefs, who had a small chance of qualifying. The Kansas City defense sacked Rivers seven times and intercepted him twice, and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce recovered a teammate's fumble in the end zone to help them lead by twelve points. San Diego drove into Kansas City territory on their final four drives but failed to score on any of them. Both sides missed the playoffs.[32]
Season: 2016 (Week 1)
Score: San Diego Chargers 27–33 (OT) Kansas City Chiefs[33]
Notability: The Chiefs came back from 21 points down to win in overtime. Melvin Gordon scored twice as San Diego took a 24–3 lead with six minutes to play in the 3rd quarter, but Alex Smith converted two 4th downs and threw two touchdowns as Kansas City came back to tie. Smith ran for the winning score himself on the first drive of overtime. He finished with 34 completions from 48 attempts, for 363 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.[34]
Season: 2022 (Week 2)
Score: Los Angeles Chargers 24–27 Kansas City Chiefs[35]
Notability: Los Angeles and Kansas City played in the first Thursday Night Football game broadcast nationally and exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
|-| 1960| Tie 1–1| style="| Chargers
21–20| style="| Texans
17–0| Tie
1–1| Inaugural season for both franchises and the AFL. Chargers lose 1960 AFL Championship.|-| 1961| style="| | style="| Chargers
24–14| style="| Chargers
26–10| Chargers
3–1| Chargers move to San Diego after playing first season in Los Angeles. Chargers lose 1961 AFL Championship.|-| 1962| Tie 1–1| style="| Chargers
32–28| style="| Texans
26–17| Chargers
4–2| |-| 1963| style="| | style="| Chargers
24–10| style="| Chargers
38–17| Chargers
6–2| Texans move to Kansas City and become the Chiefs. Chargers win 1963 AFL Championship.|-| 1964| Tie 1–1| style="| Chiefs
49–6| style="| Chargers
28–14| Chargers
7–3| Chargers lose 1964 AFL Championship.|-| 1965| style="| | Tie
10–10| style="| Chiefs
31–7| Chargers
7–4–1| Only tie game in the history of the rivalry. Chargers lose 1965 AFL Championship.|-| 1966| style="| | style="| Chiefs
27–14| style="| Chiefs
24–14| Chargers
7–6–1| Chiefs win 1966 AFL Championship, lose Super Bowl I.|-| 1967| style="| | style="| Chargers
45–31| style="| Chargers
17–16| Chargers
9–6–1| Chargers open San Diego Stadium.|-| 1968| style="| | style="| Chiefs
40–3| style="| Chiefs
27–20| Chargers
9–8–1| |-| 1969| style="| | style="| Chiefs
27–9| style="| Chiefs
27–3| Chiefs
10–9–1| Chiefs win 1969 AFL Championship and Super Bowl IV.|-|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chargers
31–13| style="| Chiefs
26–14| Chiefs
11–10–1| AFL-NFL merger. Both teams placed in the AFC West.|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chargers
21–14| style="| Chiefs
31–10| Chiefs
12–11–1||-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chiefs
26–14| style="| Chargers
27–17| Chiefs
13–12–1||-| | style="| | style="| Chiefs
19–0| style="| Chiefs
33–6| Chiefs
15–12–1| |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chiefs
24–14| style="| Chargers
14–7| Chiefs
16–13–1| |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chiefs
12–10| style="| Chargers
28–20| Chiefs
17–14–1| |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chiefs
23–20| style="| Chargers
30–16| Chiefs
18–15–1| |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chiefs
21–16| style="| Chargers
23–7| Chiefs
19–16–1| Away team wins eight straight meetings from 1974 to 1977.|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chargers
29–23(OT)| style="| Chiefs
23–0| Chiefs
20–17–1| |-| | style="| | style="| Chargers
28–7| style="| Chargers
20–14| Chiefs
20–19–1| |-|-| | style="| | style="| Chargers
20–7| style="| Chargers
24–7| Chargers
21–20–1| |-| | style="| | style="| Chargers
22–20| style="| Chargers
42–31| Chargers
23–20–1| |-| | style="| | no game| style="| Chiefs
19–12| Chargers
23–21–1| Game in San Diego cancelled as a result of the Players strike reducing season to 9 games.|-| | style="| | style="| Chargers
41–38| style="| Chargers
17–13| Chargers
25–21–1| |-| | style="| | style="| Chiefs
42–21| style="| Chiefs
31–13| Chargers
25–23–1| |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chargers
31–20| style="| Chiefs
38–34| Chargers
26–24–1| |-| | style="| | style="| Chiefs
24–23| style="| Chiefs
42–41| Tie
26–26–1| |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chargers
42–21| style="| Chiefs
20–13| Tie
27–27–1| |-| | style="| | style="| Chargers
24–13| style="| Chargers
24–23| Chargers
29–27–1| |-| | style="| | style="| Chargers
21–6| style="| Chargers
20–13| Chargers
31–27–1| |-|-| | style="| | style="| Chiefs
24–21| style="| Chiefs
27–10| Chargers
31–29–1||-| | style="| | style="| Chiefs
14–13| style="| Chiefs
20–17(OT)| Tie
31–31–1| |-| | style="| | style="| Chiefs
24–10| style="| Chiefs
16–14| Chiefs
33–31–1| |- style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold;"| 1992 Playoffs| style="| | style="| Chargers 17–0| | Chiefs
33–32–1| AFC Wild Card round. Only playoff meeting between the two teams.|-| | style="| | style="| Chiefs
17–14| style="| Chiefs
28–24| Chiefs
35–32–1| |-| | style="| | style="| Chargers
20–6| style="| Chargers
14–13| Chiefs
35–34–1| Chargers lose Super Bowl XXIX.|-| | style="| | style="| Chiefs
22–7| style="| Chiefs
29–23(OT)| Chiefs
37–34–1||-| | style="| | style="| Chargers
22–19| style="| Chargers
28–14| Chiefs
37–36–1| |-| | style="| | style="| Chiefs
29–7| style="| Chiefs
31–3| Chiefs
39–36–1| |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chargers
38–37| style="| Chiefs
23–7| Chiefs
40–37–1| First season series split since 1987.|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chargers
28–9| style="| Chiefs
34–0| Chiefs
41–38–1| |-|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chargers
17–16| style="| Chiefs
42–10| Chiefs
42–39–1| |-| | style="| | style="| Chiefs
25–20| style="| Chiefs
20–17| Chiefs
44–39–1| |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chargers
35–34| style="| Chiefs
24–22| Chiefs
45–40–1| Former Chiefs head coach Marty Schottenheimer becomes head coach of the Chargers.|-| | style="| | style="| Chiefs
28–24| style="| Chiefs
27–14| Chiefs
47–40–1| |-| | style="| | style="| Chargers
24–17| style="| Chargers
34–31| Chiefs
47–42–1| |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chargers
28–20| style="| Chiefs
20–7| Chiefs
48–43–1||-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chargers
20–9| style="| Chiefs
30–27| Chiefs
49–44–1| Chiefs win game in Kansas City on last-second field goal by Lawrence Tynes, who had missed two kicks earlier in the game.|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chiefs
30–16| style="| Chargers
24–10| Chiefs
50–45–1| |-| | style="| | style="| Chargers
20–19| style="| Chargers
22–21| Chiefs
50–47–1| Chargers come back from down 21–3 late in the third quarter in the game in Kansas City.|-| | style="| | style="| Chargers
43–14| style="| Chargers
37–7| Chiefs
50–49–1| |-|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chargers
31–0| style="| Chiefs
21–14| Chiefs
51–50–1| |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chargers
20–17| style="| Chiefs
23–20(OT)| Chiefs
52–51–1| Philip Rivers fumbles snap on kneel down late in game in Kansas City with game tied at 20. Chiefs win it on a field goal in overtime. The loss effectively ends the Chargers hopes of the AFC West Crown, as they, the Broncos, and Raiders all finished 8-8, but the Broncos won the tiebreaker over the Chargers due to tiebreakers. |-| | style="| | style="| Chargers
31–13| style="| Chargers
37–20| Chargers
53–52–1| |-| | style="| | style="| Chargers
27–24(OT)| style="| Chargers
41–38| Chargers
55–52–1| Chargers clinch playoff berth in week 17 win over Chiefs in San Diego.|-| | style="| | style="| Chiefs
23–20| style="| Chiefs
19–7| Chargers
55–54–1||-| | style="| | style="| Chiefs
33–3| style="| Chiefs
10–3| Chiefs
56–55–1| |-| | style="| | style="| Chiefs
37–27| style="| Chiefs
33–27(OT)| Chiefs
58–55–1|Chargers' home game was their final game as a San Diego based franchise.|-| | style="| | style="| Chiefs
24–10| style="| Chiefs
30–13| Chiefs
60–55–1| Chargers move to Los Angeles.|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chiefs
38–28| style="| Chargers
29–28| Chiefs
61–56–1 | Chiefs win nine straight meetings from 2014 to 2018. Chargers win in Kansas City on a last-minute touchdown and two-point conversion.|-| | style="| | style="| Chiefs
24–17*| style="| Chiefs
31–21| Chiefs
63–56–1| Chargers' home game played in Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Chiefs win Super Bowl LIV.|-|-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chiefs
23–20(OT)| style="| Chargers
38–21| Chiefs
64–57–1| Chargers and Rams open SoFi Stadium. The Chiefs–Chargers game in Los Angeles was the first Chargers' home game in the venue. Chiefs lose Super Bowl LV. |-| | Tie 1–1| style="| Chiefs
34–28(OT) | style="| Chargers
30–24| Chiefs
65–58–1||-| | style="| | style="| Chiefs
30–27 | style="| Chiefs
27–24| Chiefs
67–58–1| The Chiefs-Chargers game in Kansas City was the first Thursday Night Football game broadcast nationally and exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. Chiefs win Super Bowl LVII. |- | | style="| | style="| Chiefs
13–12| style="| Chiefs
31–17| Chiefs
69–58–1| Chiefs have won 10 straight away games (2014–present). Chiefs win Super Bowl LVIII.|-| AFL regular season| style="|Chiefs 10–9–1| Chargers 5–4–1| Chiefs 6–4||-| NFL regular season| style="|Chiefs 59–48| Chiefs 27–26| Chiefs 32–22| Chargers' home record includes the 2019 game played in Mexico City|-| AFL and NFL regular season| style="|Chiefs 69–57–1| Tie 31–31–1 | Chiefs 38–26| |-| NFL postseason| style="|Chargers 1–0| Chargers 1–0| no games| 1992 AFC Wild Card playoffs|-| Regular and postseason | style="|| Chargers 32–31–1 | Chiefs 38–26| |-
Statistics limited to Chargers-Chiefs regular season games. Correct through 2021 season.
| Chargers | Chiefs | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | Philip Rivers – 7,504 | Len Dawson – 4,476 | [36] [37] | |
| Rushing yards | LaDainian Tomlinson – 1,488 | Larry Johnson – 724 | [38] [39] | |
| Receiving yards | Antonio Gates – 1,501 | Tony Gonzalez – 1,353 | [40] [41] | |
| Touchdowns | Antonio Gates – 17 | Stephone Paige – 10 | [42] [43] | |
| Sacks | Leslie O'Neal – | Tamba Hali – Derrick Thomas – | [44] [45] | |
| Interceptions | Speedy Duncan – 5 | Johnny Robinson – 8 | [46] [47] |