Chiefs-Chargers snap counts: Travis Kelce played all but one snap

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.

The big takeaway

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.

Offensive takeaways

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 since Week 3. He caught two passes for 47 yards; it was his first performance with multiple catches and 40 or more yards since Week 5.

Moving forward, the impossibility of the postseason may lead to a continued reduction of Worthy’s snaps; he has dealt with multiple injuries throughout this season.

Defensive takeaways

Undrafted rookie Kevin Knowles has been a constant presence on the Chiefs’ special teams this year. Over the last two weeks, he was forced to play more on defense with injuries piling up in the secondary.

Against Los Angeles, Knowles played 44% of defensive snaps — including 61% of pass plays. In a must-win game, it is borderline unacceptable for the game plan to not include defensive backs Jaden Hicks, Mike Edwards or Kristian Fulton in some capacity rather than the inexperienced Knowles, who did make three tackles and break up an important pass.

Knowles deserves credit for making an impact in a tight spot, but Kansas City needs more from the players who were expected to be on the field.

Data

Offense

Defense

Special Teams

All Snaps

Editor’s Note: Arrowhead Pride obtains snap count data from the NFL’s game stats and information system, which allows us to break out snap counts by run or pass on offensive and defensive plays. Because GSIS data ignores plays that were nullified by penalties, total offensive and defensive snap counts will vary from other sources, which get their data from NFL Gamebooks