The Los Angeles Chargers fought their hearts out against the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs in the hostile confines of Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night only to fall 19-17 in one of their most emotionally draining losses of the season.

Afterward, Chargers’ first year head coach Jim Harbaugh had an uncharacteristically raw, emotional moment as he shared his honest thoughts on the team and the loss to media.

Both teams played a nearly dead even game on the stat sheet, amassing 20 first downs each with zero turnovers each, but it was the wizardry of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his running mates on offense that once again made the difference in a key late season Chiefs win.

Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers fell short in their attempted road conquest against Pat Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. © Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

“This one hurts,” Harbaugh said according to Chargers editorial director Eric Smith. “We’ll lay down and bleed for a little while, not long. Then we’ll rise and fight again.”

The Chargers find themselves with an 8-5 record, two games clear of sub-.500 bubble teams including the Colts and Dolphins, meaning a playoff appearance appears likely. The Chargers have bigger goals and, based on Sunday night’s performance, the talent to pull them off with a little luck on their side.

“Offense is absolutely killing this team,” one fan said in response to Harbaugh’s comments on X. “Haven’t been able to play 4 quarters once all year. Forced to listen to TV commentators talk about how no WRs can get open every single game.”

The Chargers will close out the season with home games against the Buccaneers and Broncos followed by road tilts with the Patriots and Raiders.

Chargers safety Derwin James shared Harbaugh’s simple message to the team after their tough road loss to the defending Super Bowl champs.