Chiefs 17, Chargers 10
Laddie Morse
To quote one of our esteemed writers, “4-and-0 has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?” While I predicted that this game would be a blowout with the Chiefs scoring in the 30s, it’s amazing to me that this team keeps on winning even though they haven’t yet played their greatest football. I am making the assumption with that statement, that they will rise to the the level of great football one day, but who knows for sure if that is coming this year or not.
Perhaps he most incredible stat of all stats is that Patrick Mahomes now has a 19-and-4 record in the month of September. That’s an .826 winning percentage.
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Rushing Attacks
While some have called this game “mediocre,” it does once again show that K.C. plays just well enough to win. On the positive side, the Chiefs run Defense held one of the league’s top rushers, J.K. Dobbins, to 32 rushing yards and a 2.3 average.
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In the meantime, the Chiefs rushed for 101 yards and Kareem Hunt came through with 69 yards rushing and critical runs in critical spots during the game. Here’s Hunt running inside the Red Zone (0:09):
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Here’s Kareem Hunt’s first run:
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While Hunt averaged 4.9 YPC (Yards Per Carry)… Dobbins was held to 3.2 YPC, even though Dobbins came into the game averaging 7.4 YPC.
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10 Point Deficit
Early in this game, the Chiefs fell behind 10-to-0. No problem, no worries, we’ve got Patrick Mahomes on our side and he’s overcome 10 point deficits many times before. So, what happens? Chiefs come from behind. Here’s the quarter by quarter scoring:
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Chiefs Injuries
It looks like Rashee Rice will be lost for the rest of the 2024 season because of an ACL tear. Here’s when it happened:
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Player of the Game I
Tight End Travis Kelce
Travis Kelce caught 7 passes for 89 yards with a 12.7 YPC (Yards Per Catch) average. Prior to this game, Travis had a total of 69 receiving yards, over a three game span. Was this a breakout game for him? Oh yeah! Here’s hoping we get to see him keep it going!
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Travis Kelce also set a team record in this game:
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Player of the Game II
DL Chris Jones
Chris Jones had two sacks in this game.
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In terms of total sacks, Chris Jones now only has three players ahead of him in Chiefs history: Derrick Thomas (126.5), Tamba Hali (89.5), and Neil Smith (85.5). Jones is currently tied with Justin Houston with 78.5.
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Comment of the Game
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Chiefs-Kings-A’s said:
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“The Chiefs were supposed to
blow these guys out today.”
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Tweet of the Game
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I’m excited to have both Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco in the same backfield. Ought to be one of the league’s best. I think there’s a possibility that if Clyde Edwards-Helaire comes back this week, the Chiefs could cut Carson Steele then hopefully re-sign him to their Practice Squad a day later.
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The Return of the Mack
The Mack would be “Drue Tranquill” who led both teams with 10 tackles. When I was at the Chiefs Training Camp practice several years ago, I heard them blasting this song — Return of the Mack — on their loud speakers… so I’m using it here. Tranquill once played for the Chargers and they drafted him in the fourth round, 130th overall, in the 2019 NFL Draft. I was surprised when the Chargers let him walk during the 2023 offseason, but he was signed by the Chiefs to a one year deal then, during this past offseason K.C. re-signed him for three years and $19M with $12.5M guaranteed.
Drue Tranquill, Nick Bolton and Leo Chenal, gives K.C. one of the best — if not the very best — Linebacking corps in the NFL. Here’s hoping GM Brett Veach can find a way to re-sign Bolton this coming offseason.
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The Worthy Bomb
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One more thing… the long bomb to Xavier Worthy (1:07)! Every team in the NFL must now sit up and pay attention.
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What do you think?
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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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