KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — In a showdown between the Chiefs and Chargers, two of the best teams in the league, led by two of the game’s bright young quarterbacks, an unheralded seventh-round draft pick who worked alongside him a few years ago Mom at a Wendy’s restaurant stole the show.
The Chiefs’ Jaylen Watson picked up Justin Herbert at the goal line early in the fourth quarter on Thursday night, headed the other way and was in a 99-yard go-ahead touchdown that led Kansas City to a 27-24 win , never touched.
“I can’t even remember what happened at that moment,” Watson later said. “It’s all so surreal.”
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw 235 yards with TD passes to Jerick McKinnon and Justin Watson, and fill-in kicker Matt Ammendola was perfect for the injured Harrison Butker. But it was the Chiefs’ defense and Watson’s highlight-reel interception that allowed Kansas City (2-0) to overcome their early troubles in an early division Test.
“What I’m most proud of,” said Chiefs coach Andy Reid, “is that we stuck together. Nobody pointed.”
Two series after Watson’s green touchdown, things got worse for the Chargers (1-1) when Herbert was drilled on a throw by defensive end Mike Danna. He left the field, clutched his side, returned a play later and then threw an incomplete that forced the Chargers while they were 24-17 behind.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire immediately split the defense on a 52-yard run to set up a field goal for Kansas City.
Herbert, who had 334 yards and three touchdown passes, valiantly tried to keep the Chargers alive. He threw a 36-yard dart into fourth to build ensuing possession, then hit Joshua Palmer in the back endzone for fourth and scored to finish Los Angeles within 27-24 with just over a minute left to pull.
Kansas City recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock to end the game.
“You’re not going to see a quarterback at any level of football who plays harder and does more for his team and gives his team a chance than he does,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley said of Herbert, who took X-rays and was unavailable after the game . “There is nobody who can do what he can do. No one. He showed a lot of courage. He showed what he shows us every day, that we are never out of the fight. He brought us back and gave us a chance.”
The much-anticipated showdown between two of the league’s most successful quarterbacks, each surrounded by top-notch playmakers, turned out to be a defensive slugfest early on.
The Chargers held the Chiefs to 13 yards in the first quarter thanks to relentless pressure from Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack and the fact that Derwin James Jr. was almost everywhere at the scoreboard, keeping a team that posted 44 points in Arizona last week at the scoreboard, until Mahomes hurled a sidearm pass at McKinnon earlier in the second quarter.
The Chargers fared better offensively, although Staley chose to play conservatively, finishing twice in fourth and second near midfield. Dustin Hopkins hit an early field goal before Mike Williams, dominating the smaller Chiefs defensemen, put the Chargers in position for Zander Horvath to catch a short TD pass.
Staley finally made it fourth in the opening drive of the second half. And a game after Austin Ekeler picked it up, Williams grabbed a hand around Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to give the Chargers a 17-7 lead.
The game appeared to be escaping the Chiefs as Mahomes was intercepted by Asante Samuel Jr. on their next possession. But replays showed Samuel didn’t control the ball and the call was canceled and Mahomes capitalized on his second chance, throwing a 41-yard shot to Justin Watson for a touchdown.
The Chiefs tied in the first game of the fourth quarter with a 17 total when Ammendola, signed earlier this week, broke a chipshot in fourth at the goal line.
That led to Jaylen Watson’s pick-6 and the first lead Kansas City had all night.
“It will be. We know we’re playing in the toughest league,” Chiefs Safety Justin Reid said. “We know we’re going to get what’s best for everyone. We have to come out and perform.”
PRIME TIME
The game was the first in the $13 billion, 11-year deal between the NFL and Amazon Prime to stream only Thursday night games. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos stood on the sidelines before kick-off alongside NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
INJURIES
Chargers C Corey Linsley (knee) and RT Trey Pipkins III (ankle) retired in the third quarter. … Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman injured his ankle in the third quarter but returned to the game. … Danna was eliminated in the fourth quarter with a calf injury.
NEXT
The Chargers return home on September 25 to take on Jacksonville. The Chiefs visit Indianapolis on the same day.
#Mahomes #Watson #Chiefs #push #Chargers #early #AFC #West #showdown
Leave a Comment