What we learned from Chiefs’ 13-12 win vs. Los Angeles Chargers before NFL playoffs

Kansas City Chiefs had no team stakes in Sunday’s 13-12 road win against the Los Angeles Chargers after they locked in the AFC’s No. 3 playoff seed last week.

So the biggest intrigue from Sunday’s contest was looking out for a pair of KC milestones.

And Chris Jones delivered in dramatic fashion.

The Chiefs defensive tackle — needing a half-sack to trigger a $1.25 million incentive in his contract for 10 sacks — took down Chargers quarterback Easton Stick with 4:52 left in the third quarter, earning his payday before getting swarmed by teammates on the sideline.

Jones was a force in the first half while chasing his bonus money. NFL’s Next Gen Stats credited Jones with 10 first-half pressures — tied for his most pressures in any game since 2018. Still, Jones remained sack-less early, with the agile Stick sidestepping Jones a few times.

Stick couldn’t do anything on the third-quarter sack. Jones waved his arms in celebration after that one, with Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and coach Andy Reid hugging Jones on the sideline after his accomplishment.

The other Chiefs’ individual feat didn’t have a chance to be achieved. Tight end Travis Kelce didn’t suit up and was ruled out (coach’s decision) while still 16 yards short of 1,000 receiving yards. Kelce had hit that landmark in the last seven seasons, an NFL record for tight ends.

In a game where quarterback Patrick Mahomes and many other main starters such as receiver Rashee Rice and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed sat out for rest, KC had a couple of injuries that will be worth monitoring ahead of next week’s Wild Card round.

For one, left tackle Wanya Morris left Sunday’s game in the second quarter with a head injury and didn’t return. He later was ruled out of the game with a concussion.

Receiver Justyn Ross also hurt his hamstring and was ruled out in the fourth quarter.

LA took a 12-10 lead with 4:09 left in the fourth quarter, but KC quarterback Blaine Gabbert engineered a game-winning drive in response. He moved the team 51 yards on nine plays, setting up Harrison Butker’s game-winning 41-yard field goal with 54 seconds left.

The Chiefs, who finished the regular season with an 11-6 record, will host a Wild Card game at a to-be-determined day and time next week. KC’s opponent will be decided based on Sunday night’s result between the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills.

With a Buffalo win, the Chiefs will play the Dolphins; with a Miami victory, KC would take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Meanwhile, in the unlikely case of a tie, the Chiefs would take on the Bills.