What we learned from Chiefs’ 17-10 win at L.A. Chargers (with prominent injury)

The Kansas City Chiefs overcame a slow start, with running back Samaje Perine providing the game-winning touchdown in KC’s 17-10 road victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Sunday’s victory, though, came at a cost.

Receiver Rashee Rice left the game with a knee injury in the first quarter and didn’t return. He was hurt accidentally by KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes following a Chiefs interception, as his right leg buckled against Mahomes’ back while both attempted to make a tackle.

During a CBS halftime interview with Tracy Wolfson, Chiefs coach Andy Reid was asked if he could say anything about the severity of the injury.

“No, but it’s not good,” Reid said.

Rice was KC’s best offensive player in the early season, catching 24 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns in the first three games.

The Chiefs’ defense came through with a standout play in the fourth quarter for a second straight week, delivering on a Chargers fourth-and-1 at the Chiefs’ 3 early in the fourth quarter.

Defensive lineman Chris Jones provided the pressure, getting to QB Justin Herbert quickly to force an incompletion out of the end zone.

Two possessions later, Mahomes engineered a 54-yard touchdown drive to give the Chiefs a 17-10 lead, with Perine finishing things with a two-yard plunge.

KC’s defense held things from there, forcing an L.A. punt with constant pressure on Herbert.

Mahomes followed by completing a third-and-6 pass to Xavier Worthy for 15 yards before the two-minute warning to use the rest of the clock.

Rice’s fluky injury was part of a brutal start for KC, which improved to 4-0 with the win.

The Chiefs immediately drove into Chargers territory on their first drive before rookie Carson Steele lost a fumble — his second lost fumble in three weeks.

L.A. immediately capitalized — even without injured starting tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt. Herbert took his team 74 yards for a touchdown, finishing the drive with a pinpoint pass on the back line to Ladd McConkey for a seven-yard score.

Mahomes threw his interception on the first play of the next possession, overthrowing tight end Travis Kelce down the sideline.

L.A. led 10-0 before KC regained momentum in the second quarter.

The big play was the rare Chiefs deep ball, as Mahomes hit the rookie Worthy for a 54-yard touchdown. Worthy, who made the catch despite pass interference on the Chargers, reached a top speed of 21.54 mph , according to NFL’s Next Gen Stats — the third-fastest play in the NFL this season.

Kelce was Mahomes’ primary target in the first half, catching five passes for 74 yards. That total was more than Kelce’s three previous games combined, as he entered the contest with eight catches for 69 yards.

On Sunday, Kelce caught his 917th pass with the Chiefs, surpassing Tony Gonzalez’s previous team record of 916.

The Chiefs will play at home against the New Orleans Saints at 7:15 p.m. Central on Monday, Oct. 7.