Chiefs don’t settle for field goals. Red zone offense produces touchdowns

The Chiefs entered Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos fifth in the NFL in touchdown efficiency in the red zone, getting six points nearly 70 percent of the time on drives that reach the shadow of the end zone.

That’s why quarterback Patrick Mahomes was left with a bad taste the first time the Chiefs ventured inside the 20 on Sunday against the Denver Broncos.

The Chiefs pushed to the 1 before a settling for Harrison Butker’s 24-yard field goal.

The Chiefs wouldn’t come up short again on their way to a 30-23 victory, with touchdowns on their other three visits to the red zone.

“You probably saw the frustration I had on the first drive not getting in the end zone,” Mahomes said. “Whenever you pay good teams, like the Denver Broncos with a really good defense, when you have those opportunities you have to get in the end zone.”

The Chiefs not only got in the end zone from close range for their next three scores, they wasted little time doing so.

Training 7-3 in the second quarter, the Chiefs reached the Broncos 14’ on a 40-yard catch and run by Tyreek Hill. A Kareem Hunt run then got the ball to the 9.

On the next snap, Mahomes found tight end Travis Kelce running a post against soft coverage at the goal line for the touchdown, his fourth scoring reception of the season.

The Chiefs got it back again and moved quickly again, reaching the 14. Mahomes gained 1 yard. One play later, the Chiefs quarterback noticed Sammy Watkins lined up against a linebacker.

Watkins took a couple of steps, made a spin move and caught the quick slant in stride, leaping into the end zone.

Watkins was also on the receiving end of the Chiefs’ third red-zone touchdown. In the third quarter, he lined up on the left side, dragged across the right and raced a defender to the pylon.

The Chiefs didn’t reach the Broncos’ 20 again in the game, but the damage was done.

Mahomes finished the game with four touchdown passes, bringing his season total to 26 and matching the Chiefs’ total from all of last season, by Alex Smith.

Twenty of Mahomes’ touchdown passes have been in the red zone.

A year ago, the Chiefs too often settled for field goals in the red zone. They scored touchdowns on 45.28 percent of their red zone opportunities in 2017, which ranked 29th. Butker was nails, setting a club record and NFL rookie record with 38 field goals last season.

But this year, the Chiefs are doing a better job of keeping Butker on the sideline until it’s time to boot an extra point. At the halfway point of the season, Butker is 13 for 14 on field goals.

Butker’s only field goal attempt resulted in points on Sunday, but he almost didn’t make it to the field. The Chiefs were about to run a play on fourth-and-1 when guard Andrew Wylie was flagged for a false start.

At that point, the Chiefs settled for a field goal. It wouldn’t happen again.

Blair Kerkhoff

Blair Kerkhoff covers the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals and college sports for The Star.

This story was originally published October 28, 2018 at 5:37 PM.