In just six days, the LA Chargers defeated the two teams that squared off in the Super Bowl 10 months ago. And on Sunday, the Chargers may have put an emphatic end to the Kansas City Chiefs dynasty.
Los Angeles moves to 10-4 on the season with the win, but more notably, knocks the Chiefs down to 6-8. The NFL Playoffs are now out of the question for the Chiefs, who find themselves in a mild identity crisis this offseason.
And just like six days ago, the Chargers won the game with defense and a clutch interception on the final drive of the game. The NFL Playoffs haven't been clinched yet for the Bolts, but it would take a monumental slide.
Chargers sweep Chiefs to end the dynasty
Mahomes likely won't play again this season as the Chiefs rightfully won't risk the health of their franchise quarterback in meaningless games. For the Chargers, the attention now turns to making a potential run at the AFC West.
With a head-to-head game remaining against the Broncos in Week 18, the Chargers winning the AFC West is not out of the question. The Bolts just need to finish two games ahead of the Broncos down the stretch.
Winning out could even potentially secure the No. 1 seed, depending how the New England Patriots finish the season. After losing to the Buffalo Bills Sunday, the Patriots are only one game better than the Chargers.
More than anything, this win was cathartic for Chargers fans. It wasn't pretty, but the Bolts did the impossible: swept the Chiefs in a season. And with it, they got to emphatically end the dynasty that they helped usher in. Mahomes made his first start after the Alex Smith era against the Chargers. Now, he played his last snap of the dynasty against the very same team.
That's not to say the Chiefs can't retool and enter another era of Super Bowl contention. But as it stands right now, the Chargers are undoubtedly higher on the NFL totem pole and have a brighter future to go with it.