Los Angeles came in with Joe Alt, Kayode Awosika, Bud Dupree, Rodney Shelley, James and Jackson all out, and lost another one during the game. Ladd McConkey, whose return to the injury-free list was one of the few good things the Chargers had going this week, left with a concussion and didn't come back. Herbert was already short on targets with Tre' Harris inactive, and losing McConkey took away the one receiver the offense runs through. The Chiefs had an in-game injury of their own: tackle Jaylon Moore was ruled out with a concussion, on a line that was already missing Josh Simmons on the left side.
The full player lines weren't available from the box score at writing time, so the individual verdicts on Mahomes, Herbert, Kenneth Walker III and Xavier Worthy will have to wait. The scoreboard covers the important part anyway. The Chargers' only points were a field goal in the 1st quarter and another in the 3rd. A Herbert offense with 6 points at Arrowhead didn't get much going on any drive.
The line score also shows something the Chargers can take with them. Kansas City scored 3 points in the entire second half and nothing in the 3rd quarter, so the defense playing without its best safety, its top corner and Dupree held the Chiefs down for 30 minutes. It didn't matter, because the offense never threatened to make it a one-score game. The preview's main argument for Los Angeles was that all 5 losses had come by 12 points or fewer, with the last 3 decided by 8, 7 and 6. This one was a 16-point loss and the first real blowout of the year.
Kansas City played without Rashee Rice for another week, with Worthy as the top receiver and Justin Watson and Andrew Armstrong called up from the practice squad, and it still opened a 16-point lead in the first half. The Chiefs had already won 2 games by 3 points this year, so a comfortable win at home was overdue. Kickoff was 3:25 PM CT in clear, mid-60s weather, so the conditions had nothing to do with the low score.
The Chargers have now lost all 3 division games, to the Raiders, the Broncos and now the Chiefs, so the AFC West is basically gone in mid-October. The bye might at least get Alt back. The latest word on his neck was favorable, and he's expected to ramp up activity during the off week. Kansas City has won 5 straight and is in control of the division. The Chiefs still need to find out whether Moore's concussion makes their tackle problem worse.