KC Chiefs rally and beat LA Chargers in ‘Thursday Night Football’ home opener

The Kansas City Chiefs scored 20 straight points and rallied for a 27-24 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in a “Thursday Night Football” game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Here is how things went down and highlights.

Big Watson play

The Chargers had a first-and-goal play at the Chiefs’ 3-yard line in the fourth quarter and seemingly were in position to take the lead again.

But Chiefs rookie cornerback Jaylen Watson turned the tables on the Chargers by returning an interception 99 yards for a touchdown as the Chiefs grabbed a 24-17 lead.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert’s night took another downturn on LA’s next possession. After throwing a pass, Herbert was hit hard by the Chiefs’ Mike Danna and had to miss a play.

Herbert returned but didn’t look like himself as the Chargers’ drive stalled. The Chiefs got the ball back and flipped the field as Clyde Edwards-Helaire broke free on a 52-yard run. A facemask penalty moved the ball to the Chargers’ 18-yard line.

Matt Ammendola kicked a field goal as the Chiefs took a 27-17 lead in the final period.

The Chargers scored a late touchdown but the Chiefs recovered an onside kick and ran out the clock on their AFC West rivals.

Big Watson play II

Many expected Thursday night’s game to be a heavyweight battle, and the teams were trading haymakers in the first three quarters.

There were some big defensive stops. But each time the Chargers scored a touchdown, the Chiefs answered on their next drive.

LA took a 17-7 lead in the third quarter, but the Chiefs moved 75 yards in seven plays and quarterback Patrick Mahomes made the Chargers pay for a blitz.

Mahomes stepped up and tossed a dime to Justin Watson for a 41-yard touchdown.

That made it a 17-14 lead for the Chargers in the third quarter.

Break’s over

The Chargers wasted little time in padding a three-point halftime.

LA got the ball to start the second half and moved 75 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown.

Mike Williams made a dazzling one-handed grab of a 15-yard pass for a touchdown that capped the drive as the Chargers took a 17-7 lead in the third quarter.

This was an impressive grab.

Sidearm magic

The Chargers jumped to a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter.

The Chiefs answered after a Chargers touchdown, moving the ball 75 yards in seven plays that made it a 10-7 game. The drive was capped by a 9-yard pass from Mahomes to running back Jerick McKinnon.

But this was no normal pass. It was a side-arm throw after escaping a Chargers defender.

LA strikes first

Chargers coach Brandon Staley is known for his penchant for taking what traditional NFL observers might call a risk.

But Staley declined to go for a first-down when LA faced a fourth-and-2 play from the Kansas City 13-yard line. So the Chargers kicked a field goal for the game’s first points.

On the Chargers’ second drive, Staley did go for it on -down play. LA faced fourth-and-inches from the Chiefs’ 49-yard line and quarterback Justin Herbert’s sneak got the first down.

A few plays later, Herbert threw a 39-yard pass to Williams. That moved the ball to the Chiefs’ 1-yard line, and two plays later, Herbert threw a touchdown pass to fullback Zander Horvath on the first play of the second quarter.

That gave the Chargers a 10-0

Bezos in the house

Perhaps one day NFL fans will be accustomed to watching games on Amazon Prime. But on Thursday night, it was a new experience for fans.

In honor of Thursday’s big game, Amazon founder/space traveler Jeff Bezos was at Arrowhead Stadium.

It appears he took a few minutes to greet Chiefs fans, too. He also spoke with Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt.

Hussey in the house

If you’re looking for a good omen for Thursday night’s Chiefs-Chargers game, how about this?

John Hussey has been assigned by the NFL to work the game, as Sharp Football Analysis noted. Hussey last worked at Arrowhead Stadium on Jan. 23 when the Chiefs won what some have called the greatest game in NFL history.

That’s the day the Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills 42-36 in overtime in an AFC Divisional playoff game. Hussey was the referee for three Chiefs games last season. The others: the Chiefs’ 34-31 loss at the Cincinnati and the Chiefs’ 19-9 win over the Cowboys at Arrowhead Stadium.

Hussey has been in the NFL since 2002 and this is his eighth season as a referee.

The uniforms

The Chiefs will be in red jerseys and white pants, while the Chargers will wear white jerseys and yellow pants, per NFL Jerseys.