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Wednesday 20 november 2019

Mahomes, Chiefs hold off Chargers 24-17 in Mexico City

By GREG BEACHAM less than 48 hours in Mex-
AP Sports Writer ico's capital city, the NFL
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Nearly has deep roots among fans
everything about this Mon- around the country. Com-
day night game felt foreign missioner Roger Goodell
to Patrick Mahomes and met Monday with Mexican
the Kansas City Chiefs, from President Andrés Manuel
the gasp-inducing altitude López Obrador while the
of raucous Azteca Stadi- league and the federal
um to the struggles of their government are consider-
powerhouse offense. ing extending the Mexico
Mahomes loved the expe- game series beyond its cur-
rience, but didn't love how rent deal through 2021.
his offense played. The But the Chargers trailed
Chiefs' defense picked it 10-9 at halftime despite
up time and again, culmi- outgaining Kansas City
nating in the final pick that 312-109 and making five
sent them all back home as drives into Chiefs territory.
winners. Rivers threw two intercep-
"We kept that confidence tions and Michael Badgley
all game long," Mahomes missed a 40-yard field goal
said. "We knew that some- attempt while making
one was going to make a three others, wasting a de-
play to win the game." Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, center, is sacked by Kansas City Chiefs defensive fensive effort that included
Daniel Sorensen snared end Frank Clark (55) and defensive tackle Joey Ivie (93) during the second half of an NFL football Rayshawn Jenkins picking
Philip Rivers' fourth intercep- game Monday, Nov. 18, 2019, in Mexico City. off Mahomes.
tion at the goal line with 18 Associated Press Tyreek Hill left the field with
seconds to play, and the into Mexico City — held Los seconds to play. Los An- played an entertaining a right hamstring injury after
Chiefs stayed on top of the Angeles to eight points in geles reached the Kansas game in the 7,200-foot el- the Chiefs' second offen-
AFC West with a 24-17 vic- the second half. City 14 before Rivers' final evation and on the Azteca sive series, although it didn't
tory over the Los Angeles But the win still wasn't mistake. grass, which yielded sev- appear to be caused by
Chargers. assured until Sorensen "He went out and he gave eral significant divots from the turf. The speedster
Mahomes passed for 182 grabbed Rivers' under- it his all," Chargers coach sharp stops or changes of watched the second half
yards and hit Travis Kelce thrown pass to Austin Ekeler Anthony Lynn said of Rivers. direction. from the sideline.
for his only touchdown, at the goal line to secure "He made some mistakes, The Rams and Chiefs were Tyrann Mathieu's 35-yard
while LeSean McCoy and the Chiefs' 10th win over and he understands that. scheduled to play here last interception return set up
Darrel Williams rushed for Los Angeles in 11 meetings. But I thought he did some season, but severe dam- McCoy's 6-yard TD run for
touchdowns as the Chiefs "I was real proud of our good things and put us age to the turf field com- the game's first touchdown
(7-4) hung on to win the defense for the job that in positions where we did pelled the NFL to relocate in the second quarter. Af-
fourth regular-season NFL they did," Chiefs coach move the ball down the the game to Los Angeles ter Williams scored on the
game played in Mexico Andy Reid said. "Four take- field." on six days' notice. Chiefs' opening drive of the
despite being held to 310 aways, so for the guys that Rivers, who turns 38 next Azteca removed its hybrid second half, Mahomes hit
yards of offense. They also intercepted the football month, has thrown seven turf and installed natural Kelce with a picture-per-
survived a few problems and then helped create interceptions in the Char- grass this year, and the field fect 23-yard TD throw on
with Azteca's grass field the turnovers, I'm proud of gers' last two games, giving had been untouched since the next drive.
and a one-sided first half those guys." him 14 this season — more Club América's last home Rivers and Allen answered
favoring the Chargers (4-7), Rivers passed for 353 yards than every quarterback in soccer game Nov. 2. The with a TD connection late
who racked up 312 yards during his first four-intercep- the NFL except Jameis Win- grounds crew came onto in the third quarter and
without a touchdown. tion game since Novem- ston. the field at halftime and a 2-point conversion. The
After throwing his second ber 2016 for the Chargers, "It's a football game," Rivers during timeouts in the sec- two-time Pro Bowl receiver
interception of the season whose playoff hopes are said. "If you could just pick ond half to attend to the improbably hadn't caught
in the first half, Mahomes nearly dead after five loss- and choose and never worst spots. a TD pass since Week 3.
led two sharp scoring es in seven games. Keenan throw them ever, I would The NFL and the stadium INJURIES
drives in the third quarter Allen caught his first TD pass choose to throw zero. But still threw an impressive Chiefs: Along with Hill, RB
with help from Kelce, who since Week 3 in the third it's hurting us right now. I just party for 76,252 of Mexico's Damien Williams was lost to
caught seven passes for quarter, but the Chargers need to cut them out." football-loving fans, who a rib injury and safety Jor-
92 yards. Mahomes also had three inept drives in One year after the NFL packed the arena and dan Lucas went out with
led the Chiefs with 59 yards the scoreless fourth quarter. called off a game at Az- mostly supported the Char- a shoulder injury. ... Center
rushing while his defense On the Bolts' last gasp, Mike teca Stadium on short no- gers, the nominal home Austin Reiter was evalu-
— which had only six inter- Williams made a spectacu- tice because of poor field team. ated for a concussion but
ceptions all season coming lar 50-yard catch with 44 conditions, these teams Although the teams spent returned.q