The Kansas City Chiefs keep winning close games.

They also keep losing important players.

The Chiefs’ latest escape job came Sunday in Los Angeles, when they weathered more first-half problems to rally for a 17-10 win over the Chargers.

But it came at the expense of budding star Rashee Rice, a wide receiver who sustained a severe knee injury when he was hit by Patrick Mahomes while making a tackle following an interception early in the game.

Two weeks ago, Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco fractured his fibula just before Harrison Butker kicked the field goal that gave them a 26-25 win over Cincinnati. And when the injuries to Rice and Pacheco are added to the potentially season-ending surgery on wide receiver Marquise Brown’s shoulder, the Chiefs are suddenly without three of their biggest offensive stars.

That’s a tough way for any team to operate, even one coming off back-to-back Super Bowl titles.

“We have guys here that have experience playing in games,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Monday. “We have a good group of guys here that we can utilize. We normally spread the ball around and that is what we’ll continue to strive to do.”

Still, while the Chiefs’ defense was the star against the Chargers, the offense did show signs of life. Mahomes hit first-round pick Xavier Worthy with a long touchdown pass, Travis Kelce finally got going with seven catches for 89 yards, and Kareem Hunt ran 14 times for 69 yards in his first game since the Chiefs signed him to help replace Pacheco’s production.

More than anything else, though, the Chiefs need Mahomes to play better to overcome so many injuries on that side of the ball.

The two-time league MVP struggled for the fourth straight game, going 19 of 29 for 245 yards with a TD pass and a pick made more costly by Rice’s injury on the play. Mahomes also was sacked three times as the offensive line struggled to protect him.

“I think it’s a matter of cleaning it up,” Mahomes said. “We scored 17 and we scored in the 20s these last few weeks, and I feel like it’s just a play here and there. It’s the interception I throw to Travis — if I put it on his body that gets the drive going. We have a fumble in the red zone on the first drive where we got some momentum going. In this league if you’re scoring upper 20s to lower 30s, that’s good football. That’s good offense. We’re close. Coach Reid said it. We keep preaching it.”

PANTHERS LOSE LB THOMPSON FOR SEASON >> The Carolina Panthers have lost veteran linebacker Shaq Thompson to a season-ending injury.

The Panthers confirmed that Thompson tore his Achilles tendon in Sunday’s 34-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in a noncontact injury.

“I’m sick for Shaq, a guy that really just cares so much and plays with so much passion,” coach Dave Canales said. “He’s a vocal leader and is somebody who has had my back through this process as I get my feet underneath me as a first-time head coach.”

TITANS 31, DOLPHINS 12 >> Mason Rudolph led seven scoring drives after starter Will Levis left with a shoulder injury, and visiting Tennessee beat Miami on Monday night.

Rudolph threw for 85 yards and completed 9 of 17 passes in relief of Levis, who attempted just four passes before running and diving for a first down on Tennessee’s second drive and coming down hard on his right throwing shoulder.

Nick Folk made field goals of 53, 52, 47, 51 and 29 yards for the Titans, who won their first game of the season. Running back Tyjae Spears took a direct snap and ran it in for a 7-yard touchdown. Tony Pollard had a 4-yard touchdown run to go with 88 yards on 22 carries.

RAVENS 35, BILLS 10 >> Derrick Henry busted out the longest run in franchise history on the way to a 199-yard game, Lamar Jackson threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another, and host Baltimore handed Josh Allen and Buffalo its first loss of the season on Sunday night.

Henry took his first handoff 87 yards to the end zone to give the Ravens (2-2) an early lead they never relinquished.

Jackson, the two-time and reigning NFL MVP, completed 13 of 18 passes for 156 yards with TD throws to Henry and Justice Hill and ran for 54 yards.

Allen, who made one spectacular 52-yard throw to Khalil Shakir that set up Ty Johnson’s TD run, fumbled trying to make another play and was 16 of 29 passing for 180 yards for the Bills (3-1).