The San Diego Chargers have missed out on a place in the playoffs courtesy of a 19-7 defeat at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium today.
The Chargers just needed a win to clinch the AFC wildcard spot, while the Chiefs also miss out on the post-season due to the Baltimore Ravens beating the Cleveland Browns.
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The hosts drew first blood in the AFC West clash, but were forced to settle for a field goal as Cairo Santos kicked the only points of the opening quarter from 43 yards.
They got a stroke of luck in the second to extend their lead, however, as Dwayne Bowe fumbled Chase Daniels's pass on the edge of the endzone and Travis Kelce recovered it for the touchdown.
The Chargers got themselves back into the match shortly afterwards, however, when Branden Oliver found a gap in the line to race in from a yard out.
Santos kept the scoreboard ticking over with two field goals at the end of the first half, while Philip Rivers gifted possession back to the Chiefs courtesy of an interception right at the end of the half.
Kansas City could not take advantage of that, but a fumble from Rivers soon allowed them to win the ball back again in the third quarter, and this time Santos was able to kick a 31-yard field goal to extend the lead to 12 points.
Rivers appeared to have gone some way towards atoning for those turnovers when he found Eddie Royal in the endzone, but San Diego's renewed hope was dashed when the play was reversed and the ball eventually turned over on downs.
That proved to be San Diego's best chance of getting themselves back into the match as they saw their playoff dreams ended by the defeat.
Barney Corkhill
