SAO PAULO ¨C The Los Angeles Chargers pulled off a stunning 27-21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in a wild encounter at Corinthians Arena that launched the NFL¡¯s international slate with Brazilian flair but without pop superstar Taylor Swift.

The stadium packed with red and white Brazilian Chiefs fans created an electrifying atmosphere on a chilly night in Sao Paulo, where Colombian singer Karol G provided halftime entertainment in the league¡¯s first international game of the season.

Justin Herbert got the Chargers rolling early, connecting with Quentin Johnson for a five-yard touchdown pass, with Cameron Dicker adding the extra point. While Patrick Mahomes struggled to get his Kansas City offense moving, Los Angeles extended its advantage when Dicker nailed a 39-yard field goal.

The Chiefs could muster only three points, courtesy of Harrison Butker¡¯s kick at the start of the second quarter, leaving them trailing as Dicker added another field goal.

Butker managed a 59-yard field goal to reduce the deficit to 13-6 before halftime entertainment took center stage.

¡°I thought it was a two-halves passing game. In the first half, we were off a bit,¡± Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said in a postgame news conference. ¡°We got to make sure that we start faster.¡±

The Chiefs finally found the end zone after the break when Mahomes scrambled for an 11-yard touchdown run, but their comeback hopes took a hit when they failed to convert the extra point attempt.

Kansas City¡¯s frustrations mounted when Chargers defensive tackle Teair Tart was flagged for a personal foul after hitting Travis Kelce, adding to the topsy-turvy nature of the contest.

The back-and-forth continued as Kansas City responded impressively with a 37-yard pass from Mahomes to Kelce for a touchdown, yet the Chiefs failed to connect on the two-point conversion attempt.

The Chargers increased their lead again with a 23-yard Johnson touchdown, and Mahomes and company could only manage a 27-yard Butker field goal for the rest of the contest.

¡°When you don¡¯t come out and play with the right mindset, you get beat. The Chargers came out with the right mindset and we didn¡¯t, so they beat us,¡± Mahomes told reporters.

The victory marked a significant statement for the Chargers in their season opener, while the Chiefs¡¯ struggles continued after hopes of a third consecutive Super Bowl title were dashed in a 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.