Final Chiefs report card of regular season: Here’s how the (mostly) subs played in L.A.
The Chiefs defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 13-12 in Sunday’s regular-season finale.
They finished the 2023 campaign with an 11-6 record and will open the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs next weekend.
Quarterback Blaine Gabbert — starting for star QB Patrick Mahomes, who was rested ahead of the postseason — engineered a game-winning drive with two long runs.
The Chiefs beat the Chargers on the road for the 10th straight year.
KC STAR OF THE GAME
Who else but Chris Jones? He was on the way to a terrific game through 2 1/2 quarters with several quarterback pressures. But he didn’t have a sack. Finally, with about four minutes remaining in the third quarter, Jones brought down Easton Stick to improve his season sack total to 10 1/2, and triggering a $1.25 million bonus. After the play, Jones leaped in celebration, and so did the Chiefs bench, well aware of the stakes.
Next: The Chiefs have qualified for the playoffs for a ninth straight year and will play next weekend. The kickoff date and time and the opponent will be deterimed after the Buffalo Bills at Miami Dophins game. The game will be at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
REPORT CARD
Passing offense: C
Mecole Hardman made the most of his opportunity and perhaps put himself in a position for more snaps in the playoffs. Hardman was sure-handed and turned six grabs into 77 yards.
Otherwise, the passing game was predictably ineffective. Gabbert was seeing action for only second time this season and was making his first start since 2018. Gabbert was 15 of 30 for 154 yards and an interception. He rushed five times for 46 yards.
Rushing offense: B
In his 17th game over three seasons, La’Mical Perine got his first start He ran hard and finished with 77 yards on 21 carries (plus three catches for 33 yards). It had been only a so-so day for the running game until Gabbert and his happy legs scrambled for a pair of first downs on the Chiefs’ final drive, with one of those carries going for 26 yards. The second gained 14, putting the Chiefs in game-winning field-goal position.
After opening the game in his usual starting spot, guard Joe Thuney likely wasn’t going to play past the first snap. But when Jawaan Taylor and Wayne Morris left the game with injuries in the first half, Thuney was the Chiefs’ left tackle. Morris returned in the third quarter.
The Chiefs’ offense struggled throughout the day. There were few possessions in which the Chiefs got multiple first downs.
Passing defense: A
The “wow” play game came early. The Chargers’ opening drive consumed more than nine minutes. But it ended when Charles Omenihu sacked Easton Stick and jarred the ball loose. It bounced directly into Mike Edwards’ arms, and his 97-yard return for a touchdown was the Chiefs’ longest play of the season.
It was the Chiefs’ longest play since Jaylen Watson returned a Justin Herbert interception 99 yards last season.
Pass interference penalties, the first on Watson, the second on Joshua Williams, were key moments in both of Los Angeles’ first-half scoring possessions. Each ended with a field goal.
Rushing defense: B
The Chiefs came up huge late in the game when Matt Dickerson dropped Austin Ekeler for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the 1. That forced the Chargers to settle for a 20-yard field goal and 12-10 lead.
Stick had rushed for 67 yards in four games this season, but his running was the Chargers’ top weapon — at least in the first half, when he went for 54 yards. He finished with 77 rushing yards.
Special teams: A
Make the Chiefs 2-for-2 on fake punts this year. Up-back La’Mical Perine took a snap and rumbled 9 yards on a fourth-and-5. One play later, Gabbert hit Hardman on a 37-yard gain to set up Harrison Butker’s 22-yard field goal. Good stuff from Dave Toub’s crew.
This story was originally published January 7, 2024 at 6:29 PM.