American Football League
The American Football League (AFL) was a major professional American football league that operated for ten seasons from 1960 until 1970, when it merged with the older National Football League (NFL), and became the American Football Conference. ...
(AFL) was established in
1960
It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism.
Events
January
* Ja ...
, the Chargers and the Chiefs have shared the same division, first being the AFL Western Conference, and since the AFL–NFL merger, the
American Football Conference
The American Football Conference (AFC) is one of the two conferences of the National Football League (NFL), the highest professional level of American football in the United States. The AFC and its counterpart, the National Football Conference ...
(AFC) West. Following the Raiders' move to Las Vegas (Chiefs) and the Rams' return to Los Angeles (Seahawks and 49ers), they are now the farthest apart two teams in the same division.
Kansas City is one of four teams with a winning record against all divisional opponents with 100-plus head-to-head games played (along with the Dallas Cowboys,
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. It ...
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. Founded in , the Steel ...
join those four in that category of 50-plus head-to-head games played. The Los Angeles Chargers are one of only three teams with a losing record against all divisional opponents with 100-plus head-to-head games played (along with the
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North Division. The team play their home games at Ford ...
and
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The J ...
). This holds as of the end of the 2022 season.
In recent seasons, Kansas City has dominated the rivalry with 17 wins in the last 20 contests. Kansas City also currently holds a ten game road winning streak against the Chargers.
Notable games
1960s
Season: 1960 (Week 1)
Score:
Dallas Texans Dallas Texans may refer to:
American football
*Dallas Texans (NFL), 1952 team in the National Football League
*Dallas Texans (AFL), 1960–1962 team that is now the Kansas City Chiefs
* Dallas Texans (arena), 1990–1993 Arena Football League team ...
20–21 Los Angeles Chargers
Notability: The first regular season game for both franchises. Dallas led 20–7 after three quarters, but
Jack Kemp
Jack French Kemp (July 13, 1935 – May 2, 2009) was an American politician and a professional football player. A member of the Republican Party from New York, he served as Housing Secretary in the administration of President George H. W. Bu ...
ran for one touchdown and threw for another in a comeback win.
Season: 1964 (Week 14)
Score: Kansas City Chiefs 49–6
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...
Notability: Kansas City's 43-point win represents the widest margin of victory in the series. San Diego came into the game having already clinched the division, but turned the ball over six times. Len Dawson completed 17 of 28 passes for 220 yards, 4 touchdowns and no interceptions.
1970s
Season: 1975 (Week 12)
Score:
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...
28–20 Kansas City Chiefs
Notability: San Diego entered the game with an 0–11 record, but defeated the 5–6 Chiefs to avoid a winless season. They scored fourteen unanswered points in the final quarter; quarterback Dan Fouts was intercepted three times but scored the clinching touchdown on a 9-yard run.
Season: 1978 (Week 11)
Score: Kansas City Chiefs 23–29 ( OT)
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...
Notability: Won by a Charger touchdown as time expired in overtime. San Diego reached the Kansas City 14 near the end of the extra period, then almost ran out of time when Fouts mistook the play clock for the game clock. Fouts found John Jefferson in the back of the end zone for the game-winner as the last seconds ran off.
1980s
Season: 1985 (Week 16)
Score:
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...
Stephone Paige
Stephone Paige (born October 15, 1961), is a former professional American football player who played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1983 to 1992. A 6'2" 185 lb. wide receiver undrafted free agent from California State University, Fresno, ...
broke the NFL single-season receiving yards record. Paige caught 8 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns – a 56-yarder from Todd Blackledge and an 84-yarder from Bill Kenney. Kansas City led 35–3 in the 2nd quarter and 38–13 early in the final quarter, before three unanswered Charger touchdowns left them just short of a comeback win.
Season: 1986 (Week 7)
Score:
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...
41–42 Kansas City Chiefs
Notability: The highest-scoring game in the series. The Chiefs scored three return touchdowns in the second quarter, twice on interceptions by Lloyd Burress and once from a fumble recovered by Kevin Ross; Leslie O'Neal added an interception return touchdown for San Diego in the same quarter. The Chargers went on to outgain Kansas City by 512 offensive yards to 222, but still lost when kicker
Rolf Benirschke
Rolf Joachim Benirschke (born February 7, 1955) is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the San Diego Chargers from 1977 until 1986.
He is probably most known ...
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...
Notability: To date, the only playoff meeting between the teams. In rainy conditions, neither team scored in the opening half.
Marion Butts
Marion Stevenson Butts, Jr. (born August 1, 1966) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers, the New England Patriots and the H ...
opened the scoring in the 3rd quarter with a 54-yard touchdown run, and the Charger defense completed the shutout. Kansas City had swept the Chargers during the regular season, but finished with a 10–6 record to the Chargers' 11–5, hence the playoff game took place in San Diego.
Season: 1995 (Week 6)
Score:
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...
Tamarick Vanover
Tamarick Vanover (born February 25, 1974) is a former professional American football wide receiver. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League (NFL) and the Las Vegas Posse of the Canadian Fo ...
scored the first overtime punt return touchdown in NFL history. In a close-fought Monday Night Football game, San Diego led 23–16 after a John Carney field goal with barely a minute left, before Steve Bono led a quick touchdown drive to force overtime. Vanover won the game in the extra period when he took a Darren Bennett punt back 86 yards for a touchdown.
Season: 1998 (Week 3)
Score:
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...
7–23 Kansas City Chiefs
Notability: Rookie Ryan Leaf produced a passer rating of zero in his third start for the Chargers, having won the first two. Leaf finished with 1 completion from 15 attempts, for 4 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions. He also lost three fumbles and was sacked twice for the loss of 23 yards.
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...
Notability: As they had done in 1975, the 0–11 Chargers beat the 5–6 Chiefs to end the prospect of a winless season. Leaf threw two touchdowns to Freddie Jones in the first half to put San Diego up 14–3, but had an interception run back for a touchdown in the second half as Kansas City came back to lead 16–14. Carney converted a 54-yard field goal with two minutes left, and San Diego won when Warren Moon threw incomplete on 4th down.
Season: 2001 (Week 8)
Score: Kansas City Chiefs 25–20
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...
Super Bowl MVP
The Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award, or Super Bowl MVP, is presented annually to the most valuable player of the Super Bowl, the National Football League's (NFL) championship game. The winner is chosen by a panel of 16 football writers a ...
, made his NFL debut for the Chargers after Doug Flutie was injured. Brees entered the game 16–0 behind; the deficit became 19–0 before he led the Chargers to 20 unanswered points. Kansas City responded with a game-winning Tony Richardson touchdown run in the final two minutes. Brees completed 15 of 27 passes for 221 yards, with a touchdown and no interceptions.
Season: 2006 (Week 15)
Score: Kansas City Chiefs 9–20
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...
Notability: LaDainian Tomlinson broke the NFL single-season records for rushing touchdowns (28) and points scored (186). He also extended his single-season record for tital touchdowns to 31, while rushing 25 times for 199 yards, and scoring on runs of 15 and 85 yards.
Season: 2008 (Week 15)
Score:
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...
22–21 Kansas City Chiefs
Notability: The Chargers (5–8 entering the game) would have been eliminated from playoff contention with a loss, and Kansas City (2–11) led 21–3 in the 3rd quarter. The score was still 21–10 entering the final two minutes, but Philip Rivers threw two touchdowns either side of a successful
onside kick
In gridiron football, an onside kick is a kickoff deliberately kicked short in an attempt by the kicking team to regain possession of the ball. This is in contrast with a typical kickoff, in which the kicking team intends to give the ball to the o ...
, for a one-point lead. Chiefs kicker Connor Barth missed a 50-yard field goal as time expired, and San Diego eventually won the AFC West.
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...
Notability: San Diego needed a win or tie to make the playoffs. The Chiefs, who had already clinched a playoff berth, rested many of their starters, but still led 24–14 entering the final quarter. After the Chargers tied the game, Chiefs kicker
Ryan Succop
Ryan Barrow Succop ( "suck-up"; born September 19, 1986) is an American football placekicker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). Succop played college football at South Carolina and was the 2009 Mr. Irrelevant by ...
had a chance to eliminate them , but missed a 41-yard field goal with 4 seconds left, and San Diego won in overtime.
Season: 2014 (Week 17)
Score:
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...
7–19 Kansas City Chiefs
Notability: At 9–6, San Diego needed a win to make the playoffs against the 8–7 Chiefs, who had a small chance of qualifying. The Kansas City defense sacked Rivers seven times and intercepted him twice, and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce recovered a teammate's fumble in the end zone to help them lead by twelve points. San Diego drove into Kansas City territory on their final four drives but failed to score on any of them. Both sides missed the playoffs.
Season: 2016 (Week 1)
Score:
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...
27–33 (OT) Kansas City Chiefs
Notability: The Chiefs came back from 21 points down to win in overtime.
Melvin Gordon
Melvin Gordon III (born April 13, 1993) is an American football running back for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wisconsin, and was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the first roun ...
scored twice as San Diego took a 24–3 lead with six minutes to play in the 3rd quarter, but
Alex Smith
Alexander Douglas Smith (born May 7, 1984) is an American former quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons. He played college football at Utah, where he received first-team All-American honors and won the 20 ...
converted two 4th downs and threw two touchdowns as Kansas City came back to tie. Smith ran for the winning score himself on the first drive of overtime. He finished with 34 completions from 48 attempts, for 363 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
2020s
Season: 2022 (Week 2)
Score: Los Angeles Chargers 24–27 Kansas City Chiefs
Notability: Los Angeles and Kansas City played in the first ''Thursday Night Football'' game broadcast nationally and exclusively on
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video, also known simply as Prime Video, is an American Video on demand#Subscription models, subscription video on-demand Over-the-top media service, over-the-top Streaming media, streaming and Renting, rental service of Amazon (c ...
.
Season-by-season results
, -
,
1960
It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism.
Events
January
* Ja ...
, Tie 1–1
, style=", Chargers 21–20
, style=", Texans 17–0
, Tie 1–1
, Inaugural season for both franchises and the AFL. Chargers lose 1960 AFL Championship.
, -
,
1961
Events January
* January 3
** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and consular relations with Cuba ( Cuba–United States relations are restored in 2015).
** Aero Flight 311 ...
, style=",
, style=", Chargers 24–14
, style=", Chargers 26–10
, Chargers 3–1
, Chargers move to San Diego after playing first season in Los Angeles. Chargers lose 1961 AFL Championship.
, -
,
1962
Events January
* January 1 – Western Samoa becomes independent from New Zealand.
* January 3 – Pope John XXIII excommunicates Fidel Castro for preaching communism.
* January 8 – Harmelen train disaster: 93 die in the wors ...
1963
Events January
* January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Cov ...
, style=",
, style=", Chargers 24–10
, style=", Chargers 38–17
, Chargers 6–2
, Texans move to Kansas City and become the Chiefs. Chargers win 1963 AFL Championship.
, -
,
1964
Events January
* January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved.
* January 5 - In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patriarch ...
1965
Events January–February
* January 14 – The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland meet for the first time in 43 years.
* January 20
** Lyndon B. Johnson is Second inauguration of Lyndo ...
, style=",
, Tie 10–10
, style=", Chiefs 31–7
, Chargers 7–4–1
, Only tie game in the history of the rivalry. Chargers lose 1965 AFL Championship.
, -
,
1966
Events January
* January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko.
* January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...
1967
Events
January
* January 1 – Canada begins a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Confederation, featuring the Expo 67 World's Fair.
* January 5
** Spain and Romania sign an agreement in Paris, establishing full consular and ...
, style=",
, style=", Chargers 45–31
, style=", Chargers 17–16
, Chargers 9–6–1
, Chargers open San Diego Stadium.
, -
,
1968
The year was highlighted by protests and other unrests that occurred worldwide.
Events January–February
* January 5 – "Prague Spring": Alexander Dubček is chosen as leader of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia.
* Januar ...
1969
This year is notable for Apollo 11's first landing on the moon.
Events January
* January 4 – The Government of Spain hands over Ifni to Morocco.
* January 5
**Ariana Afghan Airlines Flight 701 crashes into a house on its approach to ...
Super Bowl IV
Super Bowl IV was an American football game played on January 11, 1970 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was the fourth and final AFL–NFL World Championship Game in professional football prior to the AFL–NFL merger taking eff ...
Super Bowl XXIX
Super Bowl XXIX was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion San Diego Chargers and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion San Francisco 49ers to decide the National Football League (NFL) champio ...
.
, -
,
, style=",
, style=", Chiefs 22–7
, style=", Chiefs 29–23(OT)
, Chiefs 37–34–1
,
, -
,
, style=",
, style=", Chargers 22–19
, style=", Chargers 28–14
, Chiefs 37–36–1
,
, -
,
, style=",
, style=", Chiefs 29–7
, style=", Chiefs 31–3
, Chiefs 39–36–1
,
, -
,
, Tie 1–1
, style=", Chargers 38–37
, style=", Chiefs 23–7
, Chiefs 40–37–1
, First season series split since 1987.
, -
,
, Tie 1–1
, style=", Chargers 28–9
, style=", Chiefs 34–0
, Chiefs 41–38–1
,
, -
, -
,
, Tie 1–1
, style=", Chargers 17–16
, style=", Chiefs 42–10
, Chiefs 42–39–1
,
, -
,
, style=",
, style=", Chiefs 25–20
, style=", Chiefs 20–17
, Chiefs 44–39–1
,
, -
,
, Tie 1–1
, style=", Chargers 35–34
, style=", Chiefs 24–22
, Chiefs 45–40–1
, Former Chiefs head coach Marty Schottenheimer becomes head coach of the Chargers.
, -
,
, style=",
, style=", Chiefs 28–24
, style=", Chiefs 27–14
, Chiefs 47–40–1
,
, -
,
, style=",
, style=", Chargers 24–17
, style=", Chargers 34–31
, Chiefs 47–42–1
,
, -
,
, Tie 1–1
, style=", Chargers 28–20
, style=", Chiefs 20–7
, Chiefs 48–43–1
,
, -
,
, Tie 1–1
, style=", Chargers 20–9
, style=", Chiefs 30–27
, Chiefs 49–44–1
, Chiefs win game in Kansas City on last-second field goal by Lawrence Tynes, who had missed two kicks earlier in the game.
, -
,
, Tie 1–1
, style=", Chiefs 30–16
, style=", Chargers 24–10
, Chiefs 50–45–1
,
, -
,
, style=",
, style=", Chargers 20–19
, style=", Chargers 22–21
, Chiefs 50–47–1
, Chargers come back from down 21–3 late in the third quarter in the game in Kansas City.
, -
,
, style=",
, style=", Chargers 43–14
, style=", Chargers 37–7
, Chiefs 50–49–1
,
, -
, -
,
, Tie 1–1
, style=", Chargers 31–0
, style=", Chiefs 21–14
, Chiefs 51–50–1
,
, -
,
, Tie 1–1
, style=", Chargers 20–17
, style=", Chiefs 23–20(OT)
, Chiefs 52–51–1
, Philip Rivers fumbles snap on kneel down late in game in Kansas City with game tied at 20. Chiefs win it on a field goal in overtime. The loss effectively ends the Chargers hopes of the AFC West Crown, as they, the Broncos, and Raiders all finished 8-8, but the Broncos won the tiebreaker over the Chargers due to tiebreakers.
, -
,
, style=",
, style=", Chargers 31–13
, style=", Chargers 37–20
, Chargers 53–52–1
,
, -
,
, style=",
, style=", Chargers 27–24(OT)
, style=", Chargers 41–38
, Chargers 55–52–1
, Chargers clinch playoff berth in week 17 win over Chiefs in San Diego.
, -
,
, style=",
, style=", Chiefs 23–20
, style=", Chiefs 19–7
, Chargers 55–54–1
,
, -
,
, style=",
, style=", Chiefs 33–3
, style=", Chiefs 10–3
, Chiefs 56–55–1
,
, -
,
, style=",
, style=", Chiefs 37–27
, style=", Chiefs 33–27(OT)
, Chiefs 58–55–1
,
, -
,
, style=",
, style=", Chiefs 24–10
, style=", Chiefs 30–13
, Chiefs 60–55–1
, Chargers move to Los Angeles.
, -
,
, Tie 1–1
, style=", Chiefs 38–28
, style=", Chargers 29–28
, Chiefs 61–56–1
, Chiefs win nine straight meetings from 2014 to 2018. Chargers win in Kansas City on a last-minute touchdown and two-point conversion.
, -
,
, style=",
, style=", Chiefs 24–17*
, style=", Chiefs 31–21
, Chiefs 63–56–1
, Chargers' home game played in Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Chiefs win Super Bowl LIV.
, -
, -
,
, Tie 1–1
, style=", Chiefs 23–20(OT)
, style=", Chargers 38–21
, Chiefs 64–57–1
, Chargers and
Rams
In engineering, RAMS (reliability, availability, maintainability and safety)SoFi Stadium. The Chiefs–Chargers game in Los Angeles was the first Chargers' home game in the venue. Chiefs lose
Super Bowl LV
Super Bowl LV was an American football game played to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2020 season. The National Football Conference (NFC) champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the American Football Conferen ...
.
, -
,
, Tie 1–1
, style=", Chiefs 34–28(OT)
, style=", Chargers 30–24
, Chiefs 65–58–1
,
, -
,
, style=",
, style=", Chiefs 30–27
, style=", Chiefs 27–24
, Chiefs 67–58–1
, The Chiefs-Chargers game in Kansas City was the first ''Thursday Night Football'' game broadcast nationally and exclusively on
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video, also known simply as Prime Video, is an American Video on demand#Subscription models, subscription video on-demand Over-the-top media service, over-the-top Streaming media, streaming and Renting, rental service of Amazon (c ...
. Chiefs win Super Bowl LVII.
, -
,
, style=",
, style=", Chiefs 13–12
, style=", Chiefs 31–17
, Chiefs 69–58–1
, Chiefs have won 10 straight away games (2014–present). Chiefs win
Super Bowl LVIII
Super Bowl LVIII is the planned championship game of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2023 NFL season. The game is scheduled to be played on February 11, 2024, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada. It is the first Super Bowl that ...
.
, -
, AFL regular season
, style=", Chiefs 10–9–1
, Chargers 5–4–1
, Chiefs 6–4
,
, -
, NFL regular season
, style=", Chiefs 59–48
, Chiefs 27–26
, Chiefs 32–22
, Chargers' home record includes the 2019 game played in Mexico City
, -
, AFL and NFL regular season
, style=", Chiefs 69–57–1
, Tie 31–31–1
, Chiefs 38–26
,
, -
, NFL postseason
, style=", Chargers 1–0
, Chargers 1–0
, ''no games''
, 1992 AFC Wild Card playoffs
, -
, Regular and postseason
, style=",
, Chargers 32–31–1
, Chiefs 38–26
,
, -
Series leaders
Statistics limited to Chargers-Chiefs regular season games. Correct through 2021 season.