A fine mist hung in the air over the brightly illuminated stadium, a combination of fireworks residue, barbecue smoke and rain that held off for most of the cold night.
Rogue yellow streamers from the touchdown cannons zipped around over the stadium, attached to the invisible wires that helped network cameras soar over the turf.
But with 4 seconds left in the Chiefs-Chargers game Thursday night, instead of more confetti, plastic bottles and trash flew from the dumbfounded crowd.
Below, it wasn’t a scene worth celebrating, at least not for the thousands that packed the stadium and began filling the parking lots surrounding Arrowhead hours before the stadium gates even opened.