Chiefs defeat Chargers in OT in game marred by scary injury to Donald Parham Jr.

 

Chargers tight end Donald Parham Jr. was knocked unconscious and stretchered off in the first quarter of the Chiefs’ 34-28 overtime win Thursday.

The Chiefs solidified their place atop the AFC West, defeating the Chargers on a spectacular 34-yard touchdown catch by tight end Travis Kelce on the first possession of overtime at SoFi Stadium on Thursday night.

Patrick Mahomes connected on a 27-yard pass to Kelce two plays earlier before finding Tyreek Hill for 14 yards two plays. Kelce then caught made his final reception his most spectacular, weaving through the Chargers defense to find the end zone and secure the win.

The Mahomes-Kelce connection was virtually unstoppable. Kelce finished with 10 catches for 191 yards and touchdowns. Mahomes completed 31 of 47 passes for 410 yards and three touchdowns.

Justin Herbert and the Chargers held their own, but they just couldn’t keep up with the Chiefs in the fourth quarter. Herbert completed 22 of 38 passes for 236 yard and a two touchdowns. Keenan Allen made six catches for 78 yards and a touchdown.

The Chiefs improved to 10-4 with the win and the Chargers fell to 8-6.

Chargers tight end Donald Parham Jr. was stretchered off the field after being knocked unconscious while diving to make a fourth-down touchdown catch in the opening minutes of the game.

Team medical staff immediately rushed to Parham’s side and removed the face mask from his helmet. TV cameras captured him moving his fingers. Chargers players and coaches offered their well-wishes to Parham before he was wheeled off the field.

Near the end of the first quarter, the Chargers announced that Parham had been transported to the hospital for further evaluation.

He was knocked unconscious on the play when he landed on his side and hit his head on the field — he did not make contact with another player. He was attempting to catch a Justin Herbert pass in the back of the end zone on fourth-and-goal. He had the ball in his hands briefly before landing.

Prior to Parham’s injury, the game started off strong for the Chargers, with Andre Roberts returned the opening kickoff 75 yards before tripping up while trying to cut across desperate Kansas City defenders. However, wide receiver Mike Williams suffered an injury a couple plays later and emerged from the medical tent favoring his right arm and shoulder.

The Chargers failed to score on four attempts from the Chiefs’ five-yard line.