With one second left in regulation, placekicker Matthew Wright had a chance to give the Kansas City Chiefs their 12th victory in 13 games. There’s additional pressure because the Los Angeles Chargers will get the win if he misses the 31-yard attempt.
Initially, it looked like his kick sailed wide to the left. However, Wright got help from the left upright, getting three points as the ball went in. More importantly, that scary but successful kick clinched the Chiefs’ ninth consecutive AFC West title, guaranteeing them at least a home game in the Wild Card Round.
A division winning doink! pic.twitter.com/3vB3GebJHy
— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) December 9, 2024
However, with Kansas City improving its record to 12-1, it is inching closer to a first-round playoff bye as the AFC’s top seed. That additional week of rest can be crucial in the highly competitive conference.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs’ victory over the Chargers marks their tenth victory by one possession this season. They completed a regular season sweep against their division rivals by a total winning margin of nine points.
Like their first encounter, the Chiefs and the Chargers fought in a low-scoring game. While the Chiefs scored the game’s first 13 points, the Chargers returned courtesy of third-quarter touchdowns by Gus Edwards and Quentin Johnston.
The Chiefs won thanks to Wright’s two fourth-quarter field goal conversions. Likewise, Wright’s ‘doink’ maintained Kansas City’s perfect home record (7-0). The Chiefs can solidify their claim for the AFC’s top spot in their Week 15 game against the Cleveland Browns.
-Lance Fernandez