20 photos of Chiefs’ loss to Chargers that ended KC’s decade-long playoffs streak
By Emily Curiel and
Tammy Ljungblad
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) leaves the field after the Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Chiefs, 16-13, on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
Tammy Ljungblad
tljungblad@kcstar.com
Kansas City couldn’t pull out a win in a chippy, do-or-die game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Dec. 14, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs lost to the Chargers 16-13.
The game was full of dramatic plays, contentious calls and multiple injuries for the Chiefs, and Star photographers were on the sidelines to capture it all.
See the game through their lenses with these 20 snapshots.
Chiefs fans braved the cold to watch the warmups before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) runs after a catch in the first quarter against the LA Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) rushes for a touchdown in the first quarter against the LA Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) celebrate after Mahomes scores a touchdown on the first drive against the LA Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones (95) tackles Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) in the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid checks on Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) after he was injured in the first half against the LA Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) scrambles in the first half against the LA Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (80) can't rein in a deep pass from Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) in the first half against the LA Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. No flag was called on the play. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) throws the football in the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Ashton Gillotte (97) celebrates his interception with cornerback Kevin Knowles (38) and linebacker Jeffrey Bassa (31) during the first half against the LA Chargers on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) drops a pass from Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) in the third quarter against the LA Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (80) is injured after a big hit in the second half against the LA Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
A skirmish breaks out in between Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers players after a helmet-to-helmet hit on Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (80) from Los Angeles Chargers safety Tony Jefferson (23) in the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Los Angeles Chargers safety Tony Jefferson (23) walks off the field after being ejected for a helmet-to-helmet hit against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley (0) intercepts a pass from Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) in the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) runs for yardage against Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Cam Hart (20) and linebacker Daiyan Henley (0) in the second half on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass under pressure form Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Da'Shawn Hand (91) in the fourth quarter on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Mahomes was hurt at the end of the play. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) was injured in the fourth quarter on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) was injured in the fourth quarter against the LA Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. (3) intercepts a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) as Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Troy Dye (43) celebrates in the fourth quarter on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
This story was originally published December 14, 2025 at 4:20 PM.
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