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Last season's champions belatedly found their form in a frantic second period in which Spurs lost their lead, their shape and their dignity. Nine Tottenham players were booked as spite, rather than skill, took centre stage.
Mousa Dembele will almost certainly face an FA charge after appearing to gouge Diego Costa's eye just before half-time, and that was the prelude to 45 minutes of English football at its most red-blooded; running battles and brutality, enlivened by Eden Hazard's brilliant cameo performance.
Goals from Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min in the closing stages of the opening half appeared to give Spurs an unassailable lead. Gary Cahill pulled one back before the hour, though, and Stamford Bridge surged with energy. Hazard sent the stadium into ecstasy seven minutes from time but the mere facts tell only a fraction of the story.
Chelsea started the game determined to end the title hopes of their London rivals. With Cesc Fabregas operating in a more advanced role than for most of the season, they were easy on the eye but easy to defend and Tottenham were rarely troubled.
By contrast, the visitors harried and squeezed the home side, throttling their creativity to wear down Chelsea before striking themselves. Mauricio Pochettino's side never really got into a rhythm but that suits them. The game had been bitty and fiercely contested but, when Spurs saw their chance, they took it.
Erik Lamela found Kane on an incisive run in the area and the striker took the ball around Asmir Begovic to open the scoring. Chelsea could not cope with Tottenham's movement and, nine minutes later, Christian Eriksen found Son in the box and the South Korean finished with aplomb.
It looked over, but then emotion seemed to get to Pochettino. The Spurs manager stepped onto the pitch just before the break as Willian and Danny Rose squared up and a mass shoving match broke out. Dembele clutched at Costa's face as the mayhem continued. Tottenham looked like they were bullying their opponents.
The most significant moment of the night came after half-time, though, when Hazard replaced Pedro. At a stroke, the game changed. The Belgian has misfired and looked distracted this season but at his best he can be head and shoulders above anyone on the pitch. Spurs experienced the full range of his skills.
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Just as in the opening exchanges, Chelsea poured forward but this time they had a purpose. Tottenham's response to sit deeper was a mistake. The Bridge bounced with excitement and the entire mood changed.
Uncharacteristically, Pochettino's team switched off at a corner. Cahill bundled his way onto the ball and then punched it in with his left foot. At a time when Spurs needed to settle, they became more frantic. They are a young team and perhaps lack a little leadership when things go wrong. As the pressure increased, they buckled.
Guus Hiddink was able to bring on Hazard but Pochettino was less fortunate. He withdrew Son and replaced him with Ryan Mason, who is a hard worker in midfield but lacks class. The 24-year-old had the ideal opportunity to make it 3-1 but shot straight at the goalkeeper.
It would prove to be a costly miss when, seven minutes from full-time, Hazard did not make the same mistake. His finish inside the box was pure class, clipping a Costa ball into the top corner.
All that was left was sound and fury and the game deteriorated into a playground brawl, which reached its lowest point when 69-year-old Hiddink was knocked over in a post-match melee. Pochettino took responsibility afterward.
"We were all involved," he said. "When you play for a title and you play a big team like Chelsea, they want to win the same. There's nothing to say. It's normal emotion. Maybe fighting on the pitch is not a good example for both teams, but it was hard. It's the emotion. We are only human."
The Tottenham manager at least has a platform to build on. Despite Monday's meltdown he has the makings of a very good side that can go on to win titles. For Chelsea, the satisfaction may be more short-lived: Antonio Conte will inherit a squad that needs a significant overhaul. Hazard's future is in doubt and the side needs to be upgraded in all departments.
Tottenham's title challenge is over, but when all the anger and fury dispel, they will look forward to a bright future. Their opponents do not have that luxury. For all the joy at the Bridge and excitement at what they denied their London rivals on the night, Chelsea will finish the season as poor relations.