The Kansas City Chiefs have a pretty singular path if they’re going to somehow reach the postseason this year. A scenario was laid out on X earlier this week, but it all starts with a win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
If Kansas City is unable to top Los Angeles, the Chargers will do something they haven’t done since 2013: sweep the Chiefs in the regular season. The Chiefs have enjoyed a long run of dominance under Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. There were some exciting years with Alex Smith as well. Despite all of that, it’s still jarring to realize it’s been that long since the Chargers last swept Kansas City. Given the rosters and talent the Bolts have had over the years, their record against Reid since he became the Chiefs’ head coach is pretty horrid.
Upon Reid's arrival, Kansas City is a combined 19-6 against the Chargers. The Chiefs have had separate winning streaks of three, seven, and nine games over Los Angeles in that span.
The Chargers haven’t swept the Kansas City Chiefs since 2013, a streak the team must protect to keep its faint postseason hopes alive.
Since sweeping Kansas City in 2013, Los Angeles has only one other instance of back-to-back victories over the Chiefs. That run began in the final meeting of the regular-season series in 2020 and was followed by a Chargers win in the first meeting of the 2021 series.
Both games in 2013 were highly entertaining. Each Chiefs loss came by three points. The first meeting was at Arrowhead Stadium, where Philip Rivers and Smith traded blows in a 41-38 shootout win for the Bolts.
Rivers threw for 392 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Smith finished with 294 passing yards, three touchdown passes, and one interception. Kansas City held a 14-10 halftime lead that day. However, the Chargers outscored the Chiefs 31-24 in the second half, including 17 fourth-quarter points, to win by three.
Smith hit Dwayne Bowe to go up 38-34 with just 1:22 remaining. But Rivers found Seyi Ajirotutu for the game-winner—a 26-yard touchdown—with only 24 seconds left in regulation.
In the final meeting of 2013, the Chiefs rested most starters with a playoff spot already secured, leading to Chase Daniel getting the start at quarterback. Daniel had only nine incompletions on 30 attempts, but Rivers threw another three touchdown passes in that one.
It was also another contest where the Chiefs held a halftime lead, up 21-14 at the break. Kansas City would score just three points in the second half, however, and in the fourth quarter that day, the Chargers outscored K.C. 10-0 to force overtime. The Bolts won by a field goal in extra time to down the Chiefs 27-24.