Arrowhead Pride
The Kansas City Chiefs lost the eighth game of the 2025 season to the Los Angeles Chargers by a 16-13 score. It was the last meaningful game the Chiefs will play until 2026. Let’s look at how Kansas City used its players in the defeat:
Starters (offensive): TE Travis Kelce, LT Esa Pole, LG Kingsley Suamataia, C Creed Humphrey, RG Mike Caliendo, RT Jaylon Moore, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR Tyquan Thornton, WR Rashee Rice, QB Patrick Mahomes and RB Isiah Pacheco.
Starters (defensive): DE George Karlaftis, DT Chris Jones, DT Derrick Nnadi, DE Michael Danna, LB Drue Tranquill, LB Nick Bolton, LB Leo Chenal, DB Chamarri Conner, CB Nohl Williams, CB Jaylen Watson and S Bryan Cook.
Did not play: WR Jalen Royals.
Inactive: WR Marquise Brown, TE Jared Wiley, CB Trent McDuffie, RB Elijah Mitchell, G Trey Smith, T Jawaan Taylor and DT Zacch Pickens.
If that was the last meaningful game we ever saw legendary tight end Travis Kelce play, it was one of his greatest efforts. He totaled 70 yards and seven catches over nine targets, but it was his constant presence on the field that deserves recognition.
Against Los Angeles, Kelce was in formation for 98% of the offensive plays, including every run play. It is the fourth time this season — and in the last six games — he has played more than 90% of the snaps.
According to Pro Football Reference’s snap-count data, Kelce has not played at least 98% of the Chiefs’ offensive snaps since Week 14 of the 2019 season.
It felt necessary against the Dallas Cowboys, when tight end Noah Gray was in concussion protocol on a short week, but this situation appears to be a future Hall of Fame player going all out with the season on the brink. There was a very slim chance of making the playoffs going into Week 15, but that did not stop Kelce from giving it his all. That started on the opening drive when he laid out for a block to help Mahomes cross the goal line.
It would not be sensible for this to continue through the remainder of the season, especially with quarterback Patrick Mahomes out, but the four-time All-Pro tight end left it all out on the Arrowhead grass against the Chargers.
The Chiefs’ wide receivers have become a focal point among an overall sluggish offense in recent weeks. Starter Hollywood Brown (personal) did not play against the Chargers, and that led to interesting movement in the lineup.
Wide receiver Xavier Worthy did not see additional playing time due to Brown’s injury. In fact, Worthy was on the field for the third-lowest rate since Week 3. He was in formation for just 71% of pass plays, tied for the lowest rate in that stretch.
Wide receiver Tyquan Thornton was the biggest beneficiary of Brown’s absence on the field. He was part of 53% of pass plays, the highest rate he has seen...
