The Chargers (2-1) and Chiefs (3-0) meet at SoFi Stadium for the first of their two division games this season. Justin Herbert will start after another week of working through his high ankle sprain. The downside is that the Chargers will be without their two offensive tackles: Rashawn Slater (chest) and Joe Alt (knee).

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs aren’t missing any key players, but they’re far from the powerhouse we’ve all come to know in recent years. The defense, which supported them for most of last season, ranks 28th against the pass and 14th against the run. The offense also ranks 14th in yards allowed, but the Chiefs have managed to score plenty of points as they are 7th in PPG.

Jim Harbaugh will want to run the ball as usual, but given the injuries, that doesn’t seem like an easy task this week. Will Greg Roman be able to unlock the passing game if the flow of the game forces them to pivot that direction? The fans sure hope so. Otherwise, this could quickly get out of hand.

For a full quarter-by-quarter recap of today’s match, save it here!

First quarter

The Chargers won the toss and elected to postpone. The Chiefs offense was up first.

On the third play of the game, facing a third-and-8, Mahomes found Travis Kelce for a huge 38-yard gain. On the next play, rookie UDFA running back Carson Steele coughed up the ball as he was being stripped by Tuli Tuipulotu. Safety Elijah Molden recovered and the Chargers began their drive at their own 26-yard line.

With a healthy balance between the run and the pass, Justin Herbert and the Chargers marched down the field inside the 10-yard line thanks to a pair of catches from rookie receiver Ladd McConkey. Gus Edwards, set up with a first-and-10 on the nine, pushed off the left tackle for a four-yard gain. On second down, Herbert took a shotgun snap, scanned the field and fired a shot into the back of the end zone despite taking a big hit. The ball was held by McConkey behind the back of a Chiefs defender near the back sideline for the first touchdown of the game. With just over six minutes left in the period, the Chargers led 7-0.

On the Chiefs’ first play of their next drive, Mahomes lobbed a pass down the left sideline, but there was too much air underneath and cornerback Kristian Fulton was able to come down with the interception. Fulton returned the ball to Chiefs territory, but he was stripped before being tackled.

After the scrum for the ball, the officials indicated that the Chiefs had recovered. After further review, Chargers safety AJ Finley hit the ball while standing out of bounds, causing the ball to also be ruled out of bounds.

Despite the positive momentum, the chance for a second touchdown was immediately crushed when the Chargers were called for an illegal chop block that pushed them back 15 yards. On the next play, Jamaree Salyer was called for pinning the Chiefs’ Chris Jones. So facing second and 29th, the Bolts played twice before kicker Cameron Dicker was good from 50 yards out to give LA a 10-0 lead.

The Chargers defense kept its foot on the pedal by forcing the Chiefs into a three-and-out, which was punctuated by a Bud Dupree sack on third down.

Herbert and the offense entered the break with a second-and-21 on tap thanks to a false start penalty on Trey Pipkins.

Second quarter

The Chargers and Chiefs traded punts to start the quarter, with the Bolts kicking it twice against Kansas City.

The Chiefs found some momentum on their second drive of the quarter, but the Bolts defense stiffened and sacked Patrick Mahomes again on third down near midfield. Kansas City punter Matt Araiza then landed a punt inside the Chargers five, which came to a dead stop and was downed at the one-yard line. The Chargers couldn’t muster any forward movement and immediately kicked the ball back.

This time, the Chiefs needed just one play to find the end zone. Mahomes dropped back, having plenty of time, and launched a moonshot to rookie Xavier Worthy in the end zone, who ran past Fulton in coverage. Alohi Gilman was the deep safety on that side, but he didn’t try to stay at the top of Worthy’s route.

On the other end, the Chargers’ offensive line again killed a drive almost immediately with a penalty. Herbert was sacked on third-and-17 to force another punt.

As the clock wound down to half, the Chiefs moved the ball just across midfield. From there, Tuli Tuipulotu began harassing Mahomes and a holding call backed Kansas City behind field goal range. A short slant pass took them to the Chargers’ 47-yard line, but Harrison Butker’s attempt from 65 yards fell short.

The Chargers entered the locker room barely holding on to a 10-7 lead.

Third quarter

Fourth quarter