There is no explaining the way the Kansas City Chiefs are winning games. With just one tick of the clock in the game, trailing by two points, Matthew Wright called a bank shot for the game-winner. Chiefs wrap up their ninth consecutive AFC West title, and they open a two-game lead on the rest of the AFC.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers played another AFC West battle, and the game was decided by the team that had the ball last. Trailing by two points with four minutes left, Patrick Mahomes led another fourth-quarter drive that ultimately decided another nailbiter.
Matthew Wright hit four field goals on the night, but his last kick ricocheted off the left goalpost and found its way over the crossbar. That sealed the Chiefs 19-17 win over the Chargers.
This was a costly win for Kansas City because newly signed Left Tackle DJ Humphries, who suffered a hamstring injury on the game’s final drive, is likely done for the season. The Chiefs also lost two more cornerbacks: Joshua Williams and Keith Traylor, who both left the game in the fourth quarter.
In the big picture, with the Buffalo Bills loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the Chiefs have a two-game lead in the race for the top seed in the AFC, and they will need the extra week to heal their bodies.
To his credit, Mahomes took a beating Sunday night. He was sacked three times and knocked down eight times, but somehow, he kept ticking. On the final drive, facing a third and seven, he made the play of the game. Scrambling to avoid another sack, he made a Chargers defender whiff, and he calmly flicked the ball to Travis Kelce.
With no timeouts, the Chiefs held the ball until the clock ran down to .01 seconds, setting up Wright’s game-winning kick. On the drive, rookie Xavier Worthy made a great catch on a 14-yard catch on third down that extended the drive.
DeAndre Hopkins had another solid game that included the Chiefs only touchdown. By the time the playoffs come around, he and Mahomes should be able to bring their respective games to another level.
On a positive note, the defense played better, but they gave up two long third-quarter touchdown drives that erased the Chiefs’ 13-0 halftime lead. The Chargers started running the ball in the second half, but a pass interference penalty on Justin Reid aided them.
The star on defense was Cornerback Trent McDuffie, who made two huge plays in the first half that would have changed the field position for Los Angeles.
Kansas City isn’t going to complain about their 12-1 record, nor should they take anything away from winning their ninth straight division title. Still, it’s ironic they beat all three division teams at Arrowhead by two points or less.
Andy Reid, who had a big grin at the end of the game, must have been chuckling inside about how his team somehow came together with the game on the line and in doubt. Mahomes said that after the game, the team believed in each other to a fault and held together to make the most significant plays.
Mahomes again took a beating, and Wanya Morris will likely return to left tackle next Sunday when the Chiefs travel to play the Browns.
Jim Harbaugh must be beside himself because his game plan was nearly flawless, especially in the second half on both sides of the ball. His only mistake was giving the ball back to Mahomes in the fourth quarter with enough time to eliminate his team’s fourth-quarter lead.
This team is flawed, and a three-peat is undoubtedly in doubt because, despite a single loss this season, this team will need to score more points in January.
But that’s in the future. Now, with the division sewn up, Kansas City needs to go 3-1 for the remainder of the season to earn the number one seed in the AFC.
