The Kansas City Chiefs were looking at a bounce back game after suffering their first road loss to the Ravens a week ago. The team made a point to not point fingers at RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire who fumbled away the Chiefs chance for a victory in the closing seconds of that game and will be looking to do much better against the Chargers. In the end, it looks like several teams in the AFC are playing better than the Chiefs are right now.
The First Half – Four straight turnovers on four possessions left the Chiefs in a 14-to-0 hole. They finally mounted a drive right before the half and went into he locker room down 14-to-3. First Half Lowlights include:
The Chiefs Defense held the Chargers to 23 rushing yards in the first half while the Chiefs Offense produced 92 yards on the ground. The Chiefs get the ball first after the half so they’re not out of this game… yet.
Halftime Score: 14-to-3 Chargers
The Second Half – Clyde Edwards-Helaire continues to run the ball well and has several plays up the middle for good yardage. Good blocking by the OL. Mecole Hardman had a nice Jet Sweep Left for a first down. he drive culminated with a Jody Fortson TD catch over he middle of the Chargers Defense on a 3rd and Goal. 14-to-10 Chargers with 9:15 left in the 3rd Quarter.
The defense held the Chargers on the next possession forcing a 3-and-out. The Chiefs offense then drove the field with Clyde Edwards-Helaire taking a screen pass into the end zone. 17-to-14 Chiefs.
The Chiefs have now had the lead in 6 straight games.
The problem? The Chargers drove the length of the field for their own comeback TD. Chiefs CB Mike Hughes lost track of Chargers WR Mike Williams who caught a perfectly thrown ball from Justin Herbert as he crossed the goal line. Chargers 21-to-17.
Mahomes started the next drive with a short pass to Noah Gray. CEH followed that up with a good run for a first down. Next, it was CEH up the middle for 7 yards. Darrel Williams then made a great catch in the flat for a first down. DWill then ran it up the middle for another 7 yard gain. Pringle then bobbled the ball but ultimately caught it for another first down. DWill up he middle for yet again a 7 yard gain. Chiefs ripping it up on the ground. DWill for four yards up the gut and another first down at the Chargers 20. After the Chargers finally stopped the Chiefs running game for a one yard loss, Mahomes hit Tyreek Hill for 12 yards to the Chargers 10 for a first down. The drive climaxed with a Jet Sweep to Mecole Hardman for a TD. It counts as a TD pass. Chiefs 24-21 with 6:43 left on the clock in the 4th quarter.
Thus far, CEH has 98 yards rushing on 16 carries for a 6.1 YPC average. Next up, the Defense must take care of business… but…
On the first play, Justin Herbert hits Mike Williams for a 43 yard gain. Then RB Austin Ekeler ran for a 10 yard gain and a first down, the na 6 yard gain followed by a 9 yard gain and another first down. 1st and Goal and then they had a false start penalty. Herbert then threw the ball too far outside for Keenan Allen. Herbert then slid into the ground at the three yard line. Defensive holding, first and Goal. Chargers RB Larry Roundtree failed to jump in over the middle. The Chargers were then called for an illegal shift. Then Herbert threw it away. 3rd and Goal from the 6. Good play to pressure Herbert and he threw it away. Chargers 24 Yard FG is good. Tie Game. 24-to-24.
No run back on the resulting kickoff so the Chiefs get the ball at the 25. Mahomes now has 2:15 left to score. CEH runs up the middle for 2 yards. He now has 100 yards on the day. 2:00 Minute Warning. Kelce drops the ball over the middle. 3rd and 8. Mahomes throws the ball off his back foot meant for Kelce, but it’s intercepted.
The Chargers now have the ball at their own 41. Incomplete pass. Ekeler up the gut for 8. Slant pass to Keenan Allen for a 15 yard gain. TE Jared Cook takes the pass to the 30 yard line. Slant to Mike Williams goes through his hands. Good play by Mike Hughes on Mike Williams for a batted pass. TO by the Chargers with 48 seconds left. FG Attempt… not tried, Herbert comes back out f=o try for a first down. Movement on the Chargers offensive line, 5 yards penalty. 4th and 9 and out of FG range. Flag on Deandre Baker on a pass. 1st down Chargers. Williams catches a pass down to the 3 yard line. TD pass to Mike Williams.
Chargers 30-24. Missed Extra Point. The Chiefs now have 32 seconds and one Time Out left to score aa TD to tie or win the game.
Long pass to Tyreek Hill is dropped but it was a close call on a possible penalty. Holding on the Chargers but Mahomes runs for a first down and then some down to the Chargers 49. Incomplete pass to Kelce, too far. 10 seconds left. Pringle drops an almost catchable ball. Time out K.C. with 5 seconds left. Hail Mary time. Incomplete pass.
Chargers win, 30 -to-24 in a shocker. Chiefs go to 1-and-2 on the season.
4-0 to 3-2. Justin Herbert had 4 touchdown passes with zero interceptions while Patrick Mahomes had 3 touchdown with two interceptions. Herbert ended up with a QB rating of 125.0 while Patrick Mahomes had a 81.6 QBR. These stats tell the story of the game.
Mecole Hardman took what counted as a Pass for a TD on a Jet Sweep which helped the Chiefs take the lead in a game, for the 65th game in a row:
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Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire had 100 yards rushing in this game which also showed the progress of this new OL, but CEH also fumbled the ball away for the second game in a row, in what resulted in a Chargers TD which resulted in a game deciding score. Not the kind of stat we hope for, but a stat that must be dealt with.
The Chiefs problems on Defense have not been fixed. Now, there are also problems on Offense which must be addressed.
“You gotta secure the football, turnovers in the NFL, it shows, every time you got a team that loses the turnover battle, you’re going to lose, and we had four of them… and we’re still in the game. I think it says something about our team. Our guys are down right now, obviously, this one hurts. Everybody’s going to bounce back, and we’re going to have a real good week this week… Our guys are playing hard, that’s not i at all. We’ve just got to clean it up” -Dave Toub
It’s a heartache
Nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it’s too late
Hits you when you’re down
It’s a fool’s game
Nothing but a fools game
Standing in the cold rain
Feeling like a clown
If Clyde Edwards-Helaire had not fumbled the ball away, he might have been in the running for a Game Ball. This Game Ball goes to an opponent for the second week in a row: Justin Herbert, sorry to say. IOW, no Game Ball for a Chiefs player.
Next Sunday, the Chiefs travel to Philadelphia to play Andy Reid’s old team, the Eagles. This game will be another noon time game (CDT) playing in Lincoln Financial Field and perhaps coach Reid will win his 100th game as a Chiefs coach against his old team.
Craig Stout makes a good point about not making mistakes against the Chiefs and…
HC Andy Reid has made the point many times, that games are won and lost based on a few plays. The Chiefs have become a team of mistake makers. Until they clean that up, there’s no telling how low they can slide this year.
The Las Vegas Raiders came from behind to beat the Miami Dolphins 31-to-28 on a last second FG of OT. The Denver Broncos had no trouble with the hapless New York Jets, 26-to-0. The Broncos have allowed 26 total points in their first three games (8.6 points per game). The Chargers — obviously — beat the Chiefs in Arrowhead to go up 2-and-1 while the Chiefs are currently in last place in the AFC West with a 1-and-2 record. The Chiefs have given up 94 points in their first three game (a 31.3 point per game average).
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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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