Sports

Chiefs on a mission, Lions keep hopes alive

City Chiefs’ running back Kareem Hunt (R) stiff-arms Los Angeles Chargers’ linebacker Melvin Ingram during their NFL game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City Saturday. — AFP
LOS ANGELES — The Kansas City Chiefs closed in on the NFL’s AFC West divisional title Saturday with a 30-13 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chiefs and Chargers came into the contest tied atop the division, but the win — before a raucous crowd at Arrowhead Stadium — left Kansas City needing just one win from their last two games to clinch the crown. Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt rushed for 155 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. He added seven catches for 51 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Alex Smith connected on 23 of 30 passing attempts for 231 yards and two touchdowns. In addition to their one-game lead over the Chargers, the 8-6 Chiefs own the tiebreaker after winning both regular-season games against Los Angeles. Quarterback Philip Rivers rallied the Chargers from an early 10-0 deficit, putting his team ahead early in the third with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Gates. But the Chiefs responded with a 12-play, 69-yard drive capped by Hunt’s three-yard TD catch. The Chiefs’ defense then took over. The Detroit Lions kept their NFL playoff hopes alive with a 20-10 victory over the Chicago Bears. Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes and tight end Eric Ebron caught five passes for 33 yards and a score for the Lions, who improved to 8-6. While Detroit remained in the hunt for an NFC playoff spot, they’ll need to win their last two games — against Cincinnati and Green Bay — and have some help from other teams in the NFC wild card race to get there. Darius Slay highlighted a strong defensive performance for the Lions, intercepting two passes as Bears rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky was picked off three times. The Lions held Chicago to 43 rushing yards.