Call them cardiac Chiefs after 15th straight win in 1-score game: the report card
The formula worked for a second straight week. The Chiefs got four field goals from third-string placekicker Matt Wright — the final one from 31 yards on the final play as the game-winner against the L.A. Chargers.
The decisive kick skipped off the left upright and fell through the uprights to secure the Chiefs’ 19-17 Week 14 victory at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes also threw a touchdown pass. And that was the same scoring pattern — and score of the game — in the Chiefs’ most recent victory, over the Las Vegas Raiders..
The victory improved the Chiefs’ record to 12-1 and clinched the Chiefs’ ninth straight AFC West division title. Only the Patriots have won more consecutive division titles — 11 straight from 2009-19.
Here’s more about Sunday night’s game:
KC STAR OF THE GAME
The stats weren’t dazzling, but Mahomes led the Chiefs on another game-winning drive, taking them 47 yards for the game-winning field goal attempt. He finished 24 of 37 for 210 yards and a touchdown.
Next: The Chiefs visit the Cleveland Browns next Sunday, Dec. 15. Kickoff is noon (Central Time) and the game will be televised on CBS (Channel 5 in Kansas City).
REPORT CARD
Passing offense: B
D.J. Humphries got the start at left tackle. There were no whiffs, as was the case with former starter Wanya Morris, but Mahomes continued to feel pressure and was sacked three times in the first half.
This was a difficult assignment for Humphries, who was playing for the first time since last December, when he was with the Cardinals (the Chiefs signed him as a free agent a little over a week ago). The Chargers brought Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa off the edge all night.
Humphries didn’t finish the game. He left on the Chiefs’ final drive with a hamstring injury and Morris subbed in at left tackle.
For Mahomes, quick releases were the most effective — he fired a 9-yard strike to DeAndre Hopkins for his touchdown late in the first half. Those quick passes also helped the Chiefs avoid an interception. Last week, the Chargers picked off Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins four times.
The biggest completion of the game went from Mahomes to Kelce, a 9-yard play on third-and-6 from the Chargers’ 20 with 1:11 remaining. L.A. had used all of its timeouts and couldn’t stop the clock. The Mahomes-to-Kelce connection followed Mahomes’ off-balance 14-yard completion to Xavier Worthy on third-and-10.
Rushing offense: B
Isiah Pacheco rumbled for 55 yards and a 3.9-yard average. Mahomes had the game’s biggest carry with a 10-yard scramble on the final drive.
The Chiefs were marching early in the third quarter and would have faced a third-and-1 from the 17. But after a short run, guard Trey Smith was penalized for unnecessary roughness when he delivered a head butt. Hopkins couldn’t hold onto a terrific pass from Mahomes, and the Chiefs settled for a 50-yard field goal from Wright.
Passing defense: B
Star Chargers rookie Ladd McConkey was inactive with a shoulder injury, and Justin Herbert took a big hit from Nick Bolton late in the first half. But he came back to lead scoring drives on the Chargers’ first two possessions of the third quarter to give L.A. the lead.
A pass interference call on Justin Reid cost the Chiefs 39 yards and set up the visitors’ second touchdown. Herbert was terrific in the second half, and the Chiefs were smart to play aggressively to pick up a late first down and not give the Chargers’ quarterback a chance to win the game on a final possession.
Rushing defense: C
The Chiefs forced punts on the Chargers’ first five possessions. But in the second half, L.A. went touchdown, touchdown, field goal. Gus Edwards picked up the pace and bulled into the end zone from the 3-yard-line. A 94-yard rushing game by the Chargers.
Special teams: A
All kinds of new stuff in the kicking game. Safety Justin Reid handled kickoffs for the first time this season. He’s done this before. In the Chiefs’ 2022 season opener at Arizona, Reid kicked off seven times subbing for the injured Harrison Butker.
Also, in his first game in a Chiefs uniform, Nikko Remigio turned in a nice game as a punt return specialist. He brought one back 21 yards to set up a Chiefs field goal drive.
Punter Matt Araiza had a booming day, averaging 51.75 yards per attempt. He liked his first punt so much — a 59-yarder downed at the 2 — that he didn’t try to make the tackle, as is his habit.
Wright once again was the hero. His four field goals included the walk-off winner.
This story was originally published December 8, 2024 at 10:34 PM.