Chiefs Lose the OMG Game, 51-54
by Laddie Morse | November 20, 2018
The first half of this game ended in a 23-23 tie so that should tell you just how competitive it was from the opening whistle. The Chiefs went down by 13 to come back and take the lead 17-to-16. The Rams field goal kicker missed his first point-after attempt… then the Chiefs Harrison Butker did the same on the Chiefs last score of the half. The Rams QB Jared Goff fumbled away the ball… which the Chiefs took advantage of for a TD… and the Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes fumbled away a scoop and score ball as well. Most of this game was a mirror for each team.
The Chiefs began the game looking like they were half asleep. The referees were wide awake calling the Chiefs for 10 penalties in the first half.
If fans were wanting to see a shootout they got their dream come true as Mahomes had 224 yards passing in the first half and 3 TD passes while Jared Goff had 2 TD passes and 172 passing yards. By the end of the game, Patrick Mahomes finished with 448 yards passing and 6 TDs to give him 37 so far this year with five games to go. Rams QB Jared Goff and the Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes threw for 891 yards. If you missed this game, you might want to tune into the NFL Channel because I’m sure they’ll be playing this one from now until the planet explodes.
Since the Chiefs won the coin toss at the beginning of the game, again, they had the ball first to open the second half. Patrick Mahomes proceeded to fumble the ball away a second time on a strip sack by Aaron Donald. A lot of good winning the toss did. Jared Goff took over and drove half the field then walked the ball into the end zone for a TD. Rams 30, Chiefs 23.
Not to worry. Patrick Mahomes came right back, drove the team down the field on some key passes to TE Travis Kelce including another TD pass for Mahomes to one of his favorite targets… that’s right… Travis Kelce. By this time, Mahomes already has 295 yards passing. Chiefs 30, Rams 30.
When the Rams got the ball back, they went to RB Todd Gurley for a couple of big gains, both passing plays. After Goff missed on a long pass, Gurley was tackled at the line of scrimmage but on 3rd down the Rams threw a pass in the flat to Brandin Cooks who fought his way to a first down. After a couple of ineffective plays the Rams had to kick a Field Goal. Success for the Chiefs D! Rams 33, Chiefs 30.
Next, came a turning point in the game. Patrick Mahomes threw a soft pass off a run-pass option to… the Rams DL Samson Ebukam who took it all the way to the end zone rolling over Mahomes who was attempting to tackle him. With 2:14 seconds left in the 3rd quarter it was, Rams 40, Chiefs 30. Another double-digit lead.
After the kickoff, from the 25 yards line, Patrick Mahomes threw the ball, which was tipped at the top of Mahomes throwing motion… so it was a fumble… right? Wrong. A Rams defender picked it up and ran it into the end zone. Play under review. After the review, it was ruled an incompletion. At this point, the Chiefs are reeling, being down by 10 with the Rams defense dictating the play. Then, Patrick Mahomes pulls forward to throw to Tyreek Hill, who sees Mahomes running forward so he lets up on his deep route, or coming back for the ball, when Mahomes let’s it loose to him and the ball is eventually batted down by the defender on 3rd and long. Punt.
The the Rams hand it to Todd Gurley up the middle for a good run. End of the 3rd Quarter.
Chris Jones began the 4th quarter with a huge sack on Jared Goff. On 2nd down Goff missed Brandin Cooks. On 3rd down, Goff handed off to Gurley who was tackled before he could leave the backfield. Momentum shifts to KC. Punt.
Tyreek Hill catches the Punt at the 2-yard line, retreats to the 1-yard line and makes his way out to the 9-yard line. Not a great idea to catch the ball on the 2. He did that multiple times in this game. I know he’s always a threat to go al lthe way, but in this game, it would have been best to take the ball out at the 20.
Next… PMII hit Travis Kelce for an 8 yard gain. Then, on the 3rd play of the “drive”… Patrick Mahomes hits Tyreek Hill for a 73 yard TD pass. Hill was wide, wide, open! Did I mention that he was wide, open? Touchdown Kansas City! You could hear Mitch Holthus yelling that in K.C. all the way from L.A. Butker’s Kick is good, Chiefs 37, Rams 40.
After the kickoff with no return… RB Gurley takes a pitch left and is forced out for a two-yard loss. Goff throws it over Robert Woods head to make it 3rd and long. Sean McVay takes a Time Out in a critical situation. The Chiefs rush gets to Jared Goff on a strip by Justin Houston and Allen Bailey nabs it and takes it into the endzone. Butker’s kick is good. Chiefs 43, Rams 40.
The Rams come right back with a nice run by Gurley and then 2 long passes. Just that fast it’s first and goal Rams from the 5. An incomplete pass followed by another incomplete pass… with the crowd booing and wanting a penalty. On 3rd and 5, Jared Goff hits Everett in the endzone. Rams 47, Chiefs 43. It’s already the second highest scoring game in MNF history.
Following the kickoff, from the 25, the Chiefs throw a screen to Kelce for a minimal gain. Two bum plays and the Chiefs have to Punt.
The Rams try a Jet Sweep which gain zero yards. On play action the Chiefs send a Safety blitz which forces Goff to get rid of the ball early. On third down, Goff throws a screen for 9. Punt. Rams down the ball at the Chiefs 33.
6:33 on the clock and Kareem Hunt gains 4 on 1st down. Mahomes looks downfield but sees no one and braces for a hit and takes the loss. 3rd and 9. Mahomes runs for 8. 4th and 2. Reid is going for it. Tensions rise like never before. Huge game situation… and just as the Chiefs snap the ball. the Rams take a TO. Mahomes hits Travis Kelce for 18 yards. First down and everyone heaves sigh of relief. Mahomes attempts to run up the middle and is tripped up by Corey Littleton. Marcus Robinson with a great catch for 14 yards down the left sideline. 1st down. Demetrius Harris makes a good catch for 3 yards to the right. Flag… is called on the Rams this time, for helmet to helmet… half the distance to the goal. Then, Chris Conley makes wonderful grab on a crossing route for a TD to the corner to the pylon. Kick is good, Chiefs 51, Rams 47.
2:47 on the clock. Can the Chiefs defense hold on?
Rams, with no timeouts and trailing by 4… Goff tries to run up the gut and is immediately tackled by Dee Ford. Next the ball is nearly intercepted by Scandrick. Could have been a game changer. He had his hands on two balls in this game. Each could have been intercepted. 3rd and long. Next, WR Brandin Cooks catches a ball for 14 yards and a 1st down. TE Gerald Everett catches a pass for 5 yards. Then Higbee makes catch for 6 and a 1st down at the Chiefs 40. Goff to Everett for 40 yards and a TD. Rams 54, Chiefs 51. 1:44 left on the clock.
The question is… have the Rams left too much time on the clock for Patrick Mahomes?
From the 25 yard line, with all 3 Time Outs, Mahomes throws low to Hunt in the flat. Incomplete pass. Another incomplete pass down the middle. Mahomes then hits Tyreek Hill down the sideline for 26 yards: a sensational catch. Next, Mahomes is hit as he throws… and… it’s intercepted by none other than Rams DB Marcus Peters.
Rams with the ball, 1:18 left in the game, and the Rams have a false start. 1st and 15. Down and out pass. Chiefs use first TO. Ron Parker bats down a Goff pass to stop the clock with 1:08 left. A pass to Cooks in the flat for no gain. The Rams Punt, a 68 yarder and a 15 yard return by Hill. He should have let the ball bounce into the endzone (again). The Chiefs could have had more than a minute to work with but Hill makes a bad decision.
:50 seconds left: Mahomes throws incomplete on a low throw to Kelce. :46 seconds left. Mahomes to Kelce for 9 yards. clock runs. Mahomes to Conley for 10 yards. Timeout Chiefs. Their last. Mahomes scrambles then launches a bomb… another INT. Game over.
With Patrick Mahomes throwing for 478 yards and 6 TDs (3 INTs)… the Chiefs can say they competed until the last drop of sweat was dripped from their players. With 4 lead changes in the last quarter and the last chance to drive the field and win the game, the Chiefs came up short to one of the best teams in the league on their turf under the brightest of regular season lights.
For this Chiefs fan, this doesn’t feel like years past. I can only hope that a young team learned from this. Its gives them a lot of tape to look at and learn from. Am I disappointed? Absolutely. Was this one of the best games I’ve ever seen? Also, absolutely.
This game shows me that the Chiefs are better than the Rams. I didn’t expect that but I now believe wholeheartedly that if they meet again in the Super Bowl, the Chiefs will win. What was your take on the game?
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