The Kansas City Chiefs closed out the primary month of the season with a gritty 17-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4, advancing to an ideal 4-0 file.
Very similar to their earlier video games, nonetheless, the trail to Sunday’s victory wasn’t simple. After turning the ball over on their first two possessions, the Chiefs trailed 10-0. Making issues worse, second-year broad receiver Rashee Rice suffered what seemed to be a significant knee injury after making an attempt to make a play after an interception.
Whereas the scenario appeared bleak, Kansas Metropolis confirmed resilience, leaning closely on its stout protection to maintain the sport inside attain — and provides the offense an opportunity to take a fourth-quarter lead.
“I believe greater than something, it’s nearly getting everyone settled again down — together with myself,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes mentioned of the staff’s early struggles. “I believe at first of the sport, we have been attempting to do an excessive amount of. We had the fumble after which the interception. However I assumed guys stepped up and stuffed — nearly as good as they’ll — the position that [Rashee Rice] has in our offense.”
The protection was the important thing to this victory. After permitting a discipline objective with 3:53 left within the first quarter, the Chiefs’ protection locked down, shutting out the Chargers for the remainder of the sport. On Los Angeles’ subsequent eight possessions, Kansas Metropolis compelled six punts and a missed discipline objective — after which made an important fourth-down cease on their very own 3-yard line that halted a possible go-ahead drive.
“I assumed our protection stepped up in key conditions,” mentioned head coach Andy Reid. “Whether or not it was [Drue] Tranquill coming again right here, he ended up having 10 tackles and led our staff. Chris Jones had the 2 massive sacks and the large fourth-down play. The record goes on with the protection. I assumed our secondary performed tight and challenged. I assumed the linebackers have been flying round. [Nick] Bolton was transferring round and making performs in every single place. Then the D-line, they obtained a variety of completely different appears to be like from [defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo] and [defensive line coach Joe Cullen] and executed them like they did.”
Mahomes believes the staff’s protection has been important to the staff’s early success in these shut video games.
“Nobody talks about it, however our protection is admittedly good,” mentioned the quarterback. “They know the best way to shut the door and maintain us in soccer video games. They consider that the offense goes to discover a strategy to rating sufficient factors ultimately — and that’s what we did right this moment. [The Chargers] had a fast 10 factors. [Our offense] put [the defense] in [a] horrible place, and so they held them to a discipline objective. Then they shut the door the remainder of the sport.
“That’s what it takes to be a fantastic soccer staff: everyone stepping up. Our protection has performed that this complete yr — and offensively, we discovered a strategy to get sufficient factors.”
Although the protection has been lights out, there are nonetheless considerations on offense — significantly about turnovers. Kansas Metropolis added two extra to its season complete with a fumble by operating again Carson Steele and a Mahomes interception. That brings the staff’s turnover depend to seven by 4 video games.
“We’re making approach too many errors,” acknowledged Reid. “We get these drives rolling — after which shoot ourselves within the foot. When you try this, the odds go approach down on you with the ability to have a profitable drive and rating factors. So, we’ve obtained to maintain that.”
Nonetheless, Mahomes stays assured within the staff’s skill to show issues round — particularly given the factors they’ve put up regardless of their errors.
“I believe it’s a matter of cleansing it up,” Mahomes defined. “We scored 17. We scored within the 20s these previous couple of weeks. I really feel prefer it’s only a play right here and there. It’s the interception I threw to [Travis Kelce]. If I put it on his physique, that will get the drive going. We have now a fumble within the pink zone on the primary drive the place we obtained some momentum going. On this league, in case you’re scoring within the higher 20s to decrease 30s, that’s good soccer — that’s good offense.
“We’re shut. Coach Reid says it and we maintain preaching it. I do know some Chiefs followers are most likely irritated by it, however that’s all you are able to do on this league: maintain pushing and pushing to get higher. I believe it’s going to repay ultimately.”
