Chiefs report card: KC graded well when the (preseason) game mattered most
The Chiefs won the first three quarters, the Bears the fourth quarter — and that was enough for Chicago to claim a 29-27 triumph in the preseason finale.
The game-winning touchdown came with three seconds remaining and assured a winless preseason for the Chiefs (0-3). But when the starters faced off, the Chiefs dominated.
KC Star of the Game
Patrick Mahomes looked sharp, and that’s a good sign heading into the regular season. He hit Tyquan Thornton on a deep ball, put a nice touch on a 20-yard gain to Travis Kelce and chipped in an 18-yard run. He’s ready to roll.
Next: The Chiefs open the regular season on Sept. 5 against the Los Angeles Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Kickoff will be 7 p.m. Central. The game will be televised in Kansas City by KSHB (Channel 41).
KC Chiefs report card
Passing offense: A
The ball was flying at Arrowhead.
Mahomes’ bomb to Thornton might be a touchdown the next time as Thornton got behind the defense. In the second half, Chris Oladokun and Jimmy Holiday connected on a 50-yard completion. The Chiefs talked plenty in training camp about restoring the deep ball. It happened against the Bears.
Brashard Smith had a drop, but the Chiefs came back to him three plays later; he turned it into a 12-yard gain. Kareem Hunt’s drop in the end zone after a Mahomes scramble on third down cost the Chiefs a touchdown.
Rushing offense: B
Isiah Pacheco looked strong on his three carries and the Chiefs punched in 2-yard scoring runs by Pacheco and Elijah Mitchell. The disappointment came in the fourth quarter when Chiefs reserves couldn’t run out the clock with a five-point lead and punted. The Bears took the ball 87 yards in 86 seconds to score the winning touchdown. The Chiefs averaged a healthy 4.9 yards per attempt.
Passing defense: B
Not much happened for the Bears against the Chiefs’ defensive starters. Caleb Williams played the entire first half and Chicago trailed 20-10 at the break. The Chiefs logged two sacks, one shared by Chris Jones and Charles Omenihu and the other by linebacker Cooper McDonald, a rookie free agent trying to make the team.
It was a big night for cornerback Kristian Fulton, who saw his first action in a Chiefs uniform after missing the first two games recovering from a knee injury.
Rushing defense: C
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will be happy with the Chiefs’ early effort. Perhaps the only disappointment was an inability to come up with stops on third-and-short situations before halftime. Jerry Tillery started at tackle over Mike Pennel for the first time in the preseason.
Special teams: A
He’s a long shot to make the team, but cornerback Kevin Knowles, a rookie free agent, showed great hustle coming off the edge to block a Cairo Santos extra point in the fourth quarter.
Otherwise, a third straight solid game across the special teams. Matt Araiza, who has had a good training camp and preseason, didn’t attempt a punt until the fourth quarter, and kicker Harrison Butker remained perfect in the preseason with pair of field goals and three extra points.