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The Chargers–Chiefs rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs.

Quick Facts Location, First meeting ...
Chargers–Chiefs rivalry
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Chargers and Chiefs face off during the 2009 season.
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Los Angeles Chargers
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Kansas City Chiefs
LocationLos Angeles, Kansas City
First meetingSeptember 10, 1960
Chargers 21, Texans 20[1]
Latest meetingDecember 8, 2024
Chiefs 19, Chargers 17[1]
Next meeting2025
StadiumsChargers: SoFi Stadium
Chiefs: Arrowhead Stadium
Statistics
Meetings total130[1]
All-time seriesChiefs: 71–58–1[1]
Regular season seriesChiefs: 71–57–1[1]
Postseason resultsChargers: 1–0[1]
Largest victoryChargers: 31–0 (2010)
Chiefs: 49–6 (1964)[1]
Longest win streakChargers: 6 (1979–1981)
Chiefs: 9 (2014–2018)[1]
Current win streakChiefs: 7 (2021–present)[1]
Post–season history[1]
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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. In recent seasons, Kansas City has dominated the rivalry with 18 wins in the last 21 meetings, including eleven straight wins in San Diego/Los Angeles.

The Chiefs lead the overall series, 71–58–1. The two teams have met once in the playoffs, with the Chargers winning.[1]

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Notable games

1960s

Season: 1960 (Week 1)
Score: Dallas Texans 20–21 Los Angeles Chargers[2]
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.[3]

Season: 1964 (Week 14)
Score: Kansas City Chiefs 49–6 San Diego Chargers[4]
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.[5]

1970s

Season: 1975 (Week 12)
Score: San Diego Chargers 28–20 Kansas City Chiefs[6]
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.[7]

Season: 1978 (Week 11)
Score: Kansas City Chiefs 23–29 (OT) San Diego Chargers[8]
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.[9]

1980s

Season: 1985 (Week 16)
Score: San Diego Chargers 34–38 Kansas City Chiefs[10]
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.[a] 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.[12]

Season: 1986 (Week 7)
Score: San Diego Chargers 41–42 Kansas City Chiefs[13]
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.[14]

1990s

Season: 1992 (Wildcard playoffs)
Score: Kansas City Chiefs 0–17 San Diego Chargers[15]
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.[16]

Season: 1995 (Week 6)
Score: San Diego Chargers 23–29 (OT) Kansas City Chiefs[17]
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.[18][19]

Season: 1998 (Week 3)
Score: San Diego Chargers 7–23 Kansas City Chiefs[20]
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.[21]

2000s

Season: 2000 (Week 13)
Score: Kansas City Chiefs 16–17 San Diego Chargers[22]
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.[23]

Season: 2001 (Week 8)
Score: Kansas City Chiefs 25–20 San Diego Chargers[24]
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.[25]

Season: 2006 (Week 15)
Score: Kansas City Chiefs 9–20 San Diego Chargers[26]
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 total touchdowns to 31, while rushing 25 times for 199 yards, and scoring on runs of 15 and 85 yards.[27]

Season: 2008 (Week 15)
Score: San Diego Chargers 22–21 Kansas City Chiefs[28]
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.[29][30]

2010s

Season: 2013 (Week 17)
Score: Kansas City Chiefs 24–27 (OT) San Diego Chargers[31]
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.[32]

Season: 2014 (Week 17)
Score: San Diego Chargers 7–19 Kansas City Chiefs[33]
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.[34]

Season: 2016 (Week 1)
Score: San Diego Chargers 27–33 (OT) Kansas City Chiefs[35]
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.[36]

2020s

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Chargers at Chiefs, in 2022.

Season: 2022 (Week 2)
Score: Los Angeles Chargers 24–27 Kansas City Chiefs[37]
Notability: Los Angeles and Kansas City played in the first Thursday Night Football game broadcast nationally and exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

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Season-by-season results

More information San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers vs. Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs Season-by-Season Results, Season ...
San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers vs. Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs Season-by-Season Results[1]
1960s (Chiefs, 10–9–1)
SeasonSeason seriesat Los Angeles/San Diego Chargersat Dallas Texans/Kansas City ChiefsOverall seriesNotes
1960 Tie 1–1 Chargers
21–20
Texans
17–0
Tie
1–1
Inaugural season for both franchises and the American Football League (AFL). The Chargers and Texans are placed in the AFL Western Division, resulting in two meetings annually.
Last season until the 2017 season the Chargers played as a Los Angeles-based franchise.
.Chargers lose 1960 AFL Championship.
1961 Chargers 2–0 Chargers
24–14
Chargers
26–10
Chargers
3–1
Chargers relocate to San Diego.
Chargers lose 1961 AFL Championship.
1962 Tie 1–1 Chargers
32–28
Texans
26–17
Chargers
4–2
Game in Dallas was the Texans' final regular-season game as a Dallas-based team and under the Texans name.
Texans win 1962 AFL Championship.
1963 Chargers 2–0 Chargers
24–10
Chargers
38–17
Chargers
6–2
Texans relocate to Kansas City and rename themselves to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Chargers win 1963 AFL Championship.
1964 Tie 1–1 Chiefs
49–6
Chargers
28–14
Chargers
7–3
In San Diego, Chiefs record their largest victory against the Chargers with a 43–point differential and score their most points in a game against the Chargers.
Chargers lose 1964 AFL Championship.
1965 Chiefs 1–0–1 Tie
10–10
Chiefs
31–7
Chargers
7–4–1
Chargers lose 1965 AFL Championship.
1966 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
27–14
Chiefs
24–14
Chargers
7–6–1
Chiefs win 1966 AFL Championship, but lose Super Bowl I.
1967 Chargers 2–0 Chargers
45–31
Chargers
17–16
Chargers
9–6–1
Chargers open San Diego Stadium.
In San Diego, Chargers score their most points in a game against the Chiefs.
1968 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
40–3
Chiefs
27–20
Chargers
9–8–1
1969 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
27–9
Chiefs
27–3
Chiefs
10–9–1
Chiefs win 1969 AFL Championship and Super Bowl IV.
1970s (Tie, 10–10)
SeasonSeason seriesat San Diego Chargersat Kansas City ChiefsOverall seriesNotes
1970 Tie 1–1 Chargers
31–13
Chiefs
26–14
Chiefs
11–10–1
As a result of the AFL–NFL merger, the Chargers and Chiefs are placed in the AFC West.
1971 Tie 1–1 Chargers
21–14
Chiefs
31–10
Chiefs
12–11–1
1972 Tie 1–1 Chiefs
26–14
Chargers
27–17
Chiefs
13–12–1
1973 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
19–0
Chiefs
33–6
Chiefs
15–12–1
1974 Tie 1–1 Chiefs
24–14
Chargers
14–7
Chiefs
16–13–1
1975 Tie 1–1 Chiefs
12–10
Chargers
28–20
Chiefs
17–14–1
1976 Tie 1–1 Chiefs
23–20
Chargers
30–16
Chiefs
18–15–1
1977 Tie 1–1 Chiefs
21–16
Chargers
23–7
Chiefs
19–16–1
Road team wins eight straight meetings (1974–1977).
1978 Tie 1–1 Chargers
29–23(OT)
Chiefs
23–0
Chiefs
20–17–1
1979 Chargers 2–0 Chargers
28–7
Chargers
20–14
Chiefs
20–19–1
Chargers' first season series sweep against the Chiefs since the 1967 season.
1980s (Chargers, 12–7)
SeasonSeason seriesat San Diego Chargersat Kansas City ChiefsOverall seriesNotes
1980 Chargers 2–0 Chargers
20–7
Chargers
24–7
Chargers
21–20–1
1981 Chargers 2–0 Chargers
22–20
Chargers
42–31
Chargers
23–20–1
1982 Chiefs 1–0 canceled Chiefs
19–12
Chargers
23–21–1
Due to the 1982 NFL Players' strike, the game scheduled in San Diego was canceled. This remains the only season the Chargers and Chiefs did not face each other twice in a season.
1983 Chargers 2–0 Chargers
41–38
Chargers
17–13
Chargers
25–21–1
1984 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
42–21
Chiefs
31–13
Chargers
25–23–1
Chiefs' first season series sweep against the Chargers since the 1973 season.
1985 Tie 1–1 Chargers
31–20
Chiefs
38–34
Chargers
26–24–1
In Kansas City, Chiefs' WR Stephone Paige finished with 309 receiving yards, setting an NFL record for most receiving yards by one player in a game (broken by Calvin Johnson in 2013).
1986 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
24–23
Chiefs
42–41
Tie
26–26–1
1987 Tie 1–1 Chargers
42–21
Chiefs
20–13
Tie
27–27–1
1988 Chargers 2–0 Chargers
24–13
Chargers
24–23
Chargers
29–27–1
1989 Chargers 2–0 Chargers
21–6
Chargers
20–13
Chargers
31–27–1
1990s (Chiefs, 14–7)
SeasonSeason seriesat San Diego Chargersat Kansas City ChiefsOverall seriesNotes
1990 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
24–21
Chiefs
27–10
Chargers
31–29–1
1991 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
14–13
Chiefs
20–17(OT)
Tie
31–31–1
1992 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
24–10
Chiefs
16–14
Chiefs
33–31–1
1992 Playoffs Chargers 1–0 Chargers 17–0 Chiefs
33–32–1
AFC Wild Card.
1993 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
17–14
Chiefs
28–24
Chiefs
35–32–1
1994 Chargers 2–0 Chargers
20–6
Chargers
14–13
Chiefs
35–34–1
Chargers lose Super Bowl XXIX.
1995 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
22–7
Chiefs
29–23(OT)
Chiefs
37–34–1
1996 Chargers 2–0 Chargers
22–19
Chargers
28–14
Chiefs
37–36–1
1997 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
29–7
Chiefs
31–3
Chiefs
39–36–1
1998 Tie 1–1 Chargers
38–37
Chiefs
23–7
Chiefs
40–37–1
First season series split since the 1987 season.
1999 Tie 1–1 Chargers
28–9
Chiefs
34–0
Chiefs
41–38–1
2000s (Chargers, 11–9)
SeasonSeason seriesat San Diego Chargersat Kansas City ChiefsOverall seriesNotes
2000 Tie 1–1 Chargers
17–16
Chiefs
42–10
Chiefs
42–39–1
2001 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
25–20
Chiefs
20–17
Chiefs
44–39–1
2002 Tie 1–1 Chargers
35–34
Chiefs
24–22
Chiefs
45–40–1
Chargers hire former Chiefs' head coach Marty Schottenheimer as their head coach.
2003 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
28–24
Chiefs
27–14
Chiefs
47–40–1
2004 Chargers 2–0 Chargers
24–17
Chargers
34–31
Chiefs
47–42–1
2005 Tie 1–1 Chargers
28–20
Chiefs
20–7
Chiefs
48–43–1
2006 Tie 1–1 Chargers
20–9
Chiefs
30–27
Chiefs
49–44–1
Chiefs victory came on a last-second field goal by K Lawrence Tynes, who had missed two kicks earlier in the game.
2007 Tie 1–1 Chiefs
30–16
Chargers
24–10
Chiefs
50–45–1
2008 Chargers 2–0 Chargers
20–19
Chargers
22–21
Chiefs
50–47–1
In Kansas City, Chargers overcome a 21–3 deficit late in the third quarter.
2009 Chargers 2–0 Chargers
43–14
Chargers
37–7
Chiefs
50–49–1
2010s (Chiefs, 13–7)
SeasonSeason seriesat San Diego/Los Angeles Chargersat Kansas City ChiefsOverall seriesNotes
2010 Tie 1–1 Chargers
31–0
Chiefs
21–14
Chiefs
51–50–1
In San Diego, Chargers record their largest victory against the Chiefs with a 31–point differential.
2011 Tie 1–1 Chargers
20–17
Chiefs
23–20(OT)
Chiefs
52–51–1
In Kansas City, Chargers QB Philip Rivers fumbled the ball while kneeling to set up the potential game-winning field goal, leading to a Chiefs game-winning field goal in overtime. Had they won this game, they would have won the AFC West; however, they ended up tied with the Broncos and Raiders, ultimately losing the tiebreakers to the Broncos.
2012 Chargers 2–0 Chargers
31–13
Chargers
37–20
Chargers
53–52–1
2013 Chargers 2–0 Chargers
27–24(OT)
Chargers
41–38
Chargers
55–52–1
In San Diego, Chargers clinch a playoff berth with their win.
As of December 22, 2024, this remains the most recent season series sweep by the Chargers against the Chiefs.
2014 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
23–20
Chiefs
19–7
Chargers
55–54–1
Chiefs' first season series sweep against the Chargers since the 2003 season.
2015 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
33–3
Chiefs
10–3
Chiefs
56–55–1
2016 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
37–27
Chiefs
33–27(OT)
Chiefs
58–55–1
Game in San Diego was the Chargers' final game as a San Diego-based franchise.
2017 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
24–10
Chiefs
30–13
Chiefs
60–55–1
Chargers relocate back to Los Angeles.
2018 Tie 1–1 Chiefs
38–28
Chargers
29–28
Chiefs
61–56–1
Chiefs win nine straight meetings (2014–2018)
Chargers win came on a last-minute touchdown and two-point conversion.
Both teams finished with 12–4 records, but the Chiefs clinched the AFC West based on a better division record.
2019 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
24–17*
Chiefs
31–21
Chiefs
63–56–1
Chargers' home game was played at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City as part of the NFL International Series.
Chiefs win Super Bowl LIV.
2020s (Chiefs, 8–2)
SeasonSeason seriesat Los Angeles Chargersat Kansas City ChiefsOverall seriesNotes
2020 Tie 1–1 Chiefs
23–20(OT)
Chargers
38–21
Chiefs
64–57–1
Chargers open SoFi Stadium, with their game against the Chiefs being their first home game at the new stadium.
Chiefs lose Super Bowl LV.
2021 Tie 1–1 Chiefs
34–28(OT)
Chargers
30–24
Chiefs
65–58–1
2022 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
30–27
Chiefs
27–24
Chiefs
67–58–1
Chiefs win Super Bowl LVII.
2023 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
13–12
Chiefs
31–17
Chiefs
69–58–1
Chiefs win Super Bowl LVIII.
2024 Chiefs 2–0 Chiefs
17–10
Chiefs
19–17
Chiefs
71–58–1
Chiefs win 11 straight road meetings (2014–present).
In Kansas City, Chiefs clinched the AFC West with their win.
Summary of Results
SeasonSeason seriesat San Diego/Los Angeles Chargersat Dallas Texans/Kansas City ChiefsNotes
AFL regular season Chiefs 10–9–1 Chargers 5–4–1 Chiefs 6–4 Texans/Chiefs have a 2–1 record in Dallas.
NFL regular season Chiefs 61–48 Chiefs 28–26 Chiefs 33–22
AFL and NFL regular season Chiefs 71–57–1 Chiefs 32–31–1 Chiefs 39–26 Chiefs are 1–0 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City (2019), accounted as a Chargers' home game.
NFL postseason Chargers 1–0 Chargers 1–0 no games AFC Wild Card: 1992
Regular and postseason Chiefs 71–58–1 Tie 32–32–1 Chiefs 39–26 Chargers have a 31–24–1 record in San Diego. Texans/Chiefs currently have a 7–1 record in Los Angeles.
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Series leaders

Statistics limited to Chargers-Chiefs regular season games. Correct through 2023 season.

More information Chiefs, Ref ...
Chargers Chiefs Ref
Passing yards Philip Rivers – 7,504 Len Dawson – 4,476 [38][39]
Rushing yards LaDainian Tomlinson – 1,488 Larry Johnson – 724 [40][41]
Receiving yards Antonio Gates – 1,501 Tony Gonzalez – 1,353 [42][43]
Touchdowns Antonio Gates – 17 Stephone Paige – 10 [44][45]
Sacks Leslie O'Neal11+12 Tamba Hali13+12
Derrick Thomas13+12
[46][47]
Interceptions Speedy Duncan – 5 Johnny Robinson – 8 [48][49]
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See also

Notes

  1. Paige's record was broken by Flipper Anderson four years later.[11]

References

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