For the second time this season, San Diego rallied in the fourth quarter and this time needed overtime, to beat the Chiefs 27-24 in overtime. Nick Novak kicked a 36-yard field goal with 5:30 left in overtime to give San Diego its only lead of the day, then held off Chase Daniel and the offense to gain a spot in the playoffs. The win by San Diego, gives the AFC West, three of the six playoff teams.
The Chiefs led the entire game with 20 of their 22 regulars not starting in the game. Daniel helped lead the charge on offense throwing for 200 yards and getting the Chiefs in field goal position at the end of the game after San Diego rallied from a 10-point, fourth quarter deficit.
Ryan Succop was wide right on what would have been a game-winning, 41-yard field goal with four seconds left in regulation.
Daniel got the Chiefs down to the Chargers 36 on the ensuing possession, but Knile Davis lost 5 yards, and Daniel threw three straight incomplete passes to end the game.
Reid talked of playing the game without his regulars.
“I look at the positive of it,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid. “We got a lot of guys in to get practice with the game plan if we do meet up with San Diego again. And the guys came out and played. You get to see, from a depth perspective, that you’ve got some guys who can play and want to compete.”