Mahomes, Kelce guide Chiefs to win over Chargers
Tyler Brown
Throughout the majority of the first six weeks of the season, the Chiefs' offense has struggled to carry the team to victory as we have seen in recent seasons. It has been the defense that has kept Kansas City in the game enough to get in the win column.
In week seven, however, the offense exploded for 483 yards, more than 100 over their season average. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce led the way as the Kansas City Chiefs (6-1) defeated the Los Angeles Chargers (2-4), 31-17. After going one for five in the red zone last week, the Chiefs went three for four this week.
“Offensively a good day, I mean a real good day,” head coach Andy Reid said. “Again, (Offensive Coordinator) Matt Nagy puts together the game plan. It was a beautiful game plan … So, with that, Pat (Mahomes) had, obviously, had a big day with over 400 yards. (Travis) Kelce keeps getting better with time. Taylor (Swift) can stay around all she wants.”
The Chiefs defense looked like it was well on its way to giving up more than 21 points for the first time this season. Heading into halftime, it was a 24-17 game after Kelce punched in his one touchdown on the game with 15 seconds to go in the half.
The defense clamped down in the second half, however, allowing zero points, just 124 yards, forcing two turnovers and three punts. It was a truly complete and complimentary game in every phase. Even wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who just rejoined the team after a trade with the Jets, returned a punt 50 yards deep into the Chargers territory.
It was that return that set up a touchdown catch from Isiah Pacheco on a screen pass to put the Chiefs up two scores with a little over three minutes to go in the game. That was Mahomes’ fourth touchdown pass on the day.
Mahomes and the offense clicked from start to finish against Los Angeles. He only had 10 incompletions on his 42 passes en route to his 424 yards. He did have one interception, but it was on a third and long and was brought in at the Chargers' own 21-yard line on a deep pass intended for Hardman.
Kelce and Mahomes found each other early and often. The star tight end caught 12 of the 13 targets he received and tallied 179 yards. His biggest gain on the afternoon was 53 yards. He now has 525 yards in just six games played this season.
After starting slow and enduring a couple of injuries this season, he is on pace for nearly 1,300 yards after totaling 303 over the past two weeks. To put into perspective his connection with Mahomes, he has caught 88 percent of the passes intended for him this season.
“ … It’s almost like he’s playing Madden like he can read the coverage and stop in the windows and be open and be on the same page as me at all times,” Mahomes said. “He did a great job, it seems like he does it week in and week out and that’s why he’s the player he is and why he’ll be a hall of famer one day.”
Sixth-year wideout, Marquez Valdez-Scantling was second on the team in receiving, hauling in three catches for 84 yards. His three catches nearly doubled his production through the first six games of the season. Mahomes broke the pocket twice to find Valdez-Scantling for a big gain on a secondary route. One of those was good for a 46-yard touchdown where Valdez-Scantling dove in to break the endzone.
“I scrambled out to the right, he did a great job of working with me and then I threw the ball – I think those runs are starting to work now that the defenses are coming up when I scramble,” Mahomes said. “I was able to get the ball to Marquez and he got in the endzone, he had a good game today and I have to continue to find him because he’s getting open and I have to continue to find ways to get him the football.”
Wide receiver Rashee Rice also found the endzone for the third time this season. Rice continued his journey to a strong rookie campaign, racking up 60 yards on five catches. On the touchdown, Mahomes found him along the back of the endzone as Rice tapped both feet in bounds over a Charger defender.
“He’s just learning,” Mahomes said. “Not only from me but from Travis, from Marquez, he takes in information well, he learns and we continue to give him more and he continues to get better and better. He’s obviously a physical player, I think you can see that but the way he’s able to start recognizing coverages and get himself open is starting to really translate and we’ll continue to get better and better and if I can hit him on that one route, it’s even a bigger game.”
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert chucked the ball around for a lot of success, but the Kansas City front had him under duress all afternoon. The Chiefs hit him eight times and brought him down for a sack in five of them.
One of those sacks came at the hands of defensive end Charles Omenihu, who had himself a dominant game in his debut. He hit Herbert twice and batted a ball that fell into the hands of L’Jarius Sneed for an interception. Omenihu signed a two-year deal with Kansas City last offseason but was suspended for the first six weeks.
Down 14 points, Los Angeles was driving down the field on their last drive of the game and got as deep as the Kansas City 35 with two minutes to go. That drive was ended by a second Kansas City interception at the hands of safety Bryan Cook.
Where the defense struggled in the first half, was giving up big, chunk plays. Los Angeles running back Joshua Kelley broke off a 49-yard run for a touchdown and wide receiver Joshua Palmer streaked down the field for a 60-yard gain. That catch led to a seven-yard touchdown reception for tight end Gerald Everette.
That tied the game at 17, but the Chiefs defense did not allow a point the final 37 minutes of the game. This marks their sixth game in a row of holding the opposing team to 20 points or less. The Chargers came in as a top-10 offense in both yards and points.
“Nobody hung - they weren’t hanging their heads, they kind of figured it out,” Reid said. “We had a plan for it and then they got us a few. When I tell you – I mean that’s a good offense. But the guys figured it out and you look at the stops in that second half and the pressure on the (Chargers) quarterback (Justin Herbert). That was an unsettled position for him today. The guys got after him a little bit. Whether they were sacking or hitting him he had people around him all the time.”
What is most important for Kansas City is that the offense seems to be headed in the right direction. A week from now they face off against the Denver Broncos (2-5) again. This time it will be in Denver at 3:25 CTD on October 29th. It will be interesting to watch and see if the Chiefs offense can put up big numbers two games in a row for the first time this season. The Chiefs now carry a three-game lead on the division and a 3.5-game lead over the Chargers, all before Halloween.
Former Chiefs’ wide receiver Dante Hall was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame today and is now the 52nd member. Linebacker Nick Bolton left the game because of a dislocated wrist. It is unknown how severe the injury is, but that was the only one that Reid mentioned.
