ClutchPoints
The Kansas City Chiefs have been the dominant team in the AFC for a decade. Their run of success came to an end in Week 15 as they suffered a 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers at home. That loss left the Chiefs with a 6-8 record and it eliminated them from playoff consideration in the AFC playoff structure.
Chargers QB Justin Herbert on the defense: "This year, they've taken it to a whole another level."
On Derwin James getting the game winning INT: "He told me all day he was going to go out and make a play like that…Nothing but respect for him" pic.twitter.com/cfK7Z77V1W
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) December 14, 2025
The Chargers improved to 10-4 with the victory but they could not make up any ground on the first place Denver Broncos. That team won its 11th game in a row and has a 12-2 record with three games to go.
The Chargers fell behind by a 13-3 margin in the first half, but quarterback Justin Herbert threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith with 5 seconds remaining in the first half. That gave new life to the Chargers and their defense dominated the game in the second half.
They held the Chiefs scoreless from that point while Chargers placekicker Cameron Dicker connected on field goals of 23 and 49 yards to give the Chargers the 16-13 advantage that would ultimately serve as the final score.
The Chiefs had a chance to tie the score on their final possession, but defensive back Derwin James came up with the game-clinching interception on a pass from backup quarterback Gardner Minshew, and that settled the issue. James had predicted he would come up with a key play in his sideline conversations with Herbert.
“He told me all day he was going to go out and make a play like that,” Herbert said. “Nothing but respect for him.”
Minshew came into the game after Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in the fourth quarter. Mahomes had been playing despite an injury to his left knee, and he was running towards the far sidelines when he was spun to the ground by Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand.
The post Chargers’ Justin Herbert reveals Derwin James’ crystal ball moment before game-winning INT appeared first on ClutchPoints.
