INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Irrespective of the opponent, irrespective of the place on the schedule, irrespective of who’s in uniform for the opponent, most of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs remind themselves, as they did Sunday in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers, of their burden, as cliched because it sounds.
“We’re going to get one of the best from all people.”
Coach Andy Reid stated it in not so many phrases. So did quarterback Patrick Mahomes, linebacker Drue Tranquill and even operating again Samaje Perine, who joined the Chiefs a month in the past, after the Chiefs’ 17-10 victory, their fourth one-score win in as many weeks to start the season.
“I simply bear in mind as a participant with the Chargers that you just had been juiced as much as play the Chiefs,” stated Tranquill, who spent 4 seasons with the Chargers. “Any time the Chiefs got here to city or we went to Arrowhead (Stadium), it was like, ‘It is a massive freaking sport!’ You felt it, one thing somewhat extra.”
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The Chargers embodied such a staff Sunday at SoFi Stadium, even with out a few of their greatest gamers, together with edge rusher Joey Bosa (hip), left sort out Rashawn Slater (pectoral), security Derwin James Jr. (one-game suspension) and rookie proper sort out Joe Alt (knee). Plus, quarterback Justin Herbert, who performed by means of a excessive ankle sprain, struggled together with his mobility when he had a clear pocket.
But the Chargers (2-2) performed in addition to they might’ve hoped within the first quarter. They constructed a 10-point lead by capitalizing on two giveaways from the Chiefs, a fumble by rookie fullback Carson Steele and an overthrown go by Mahomes that was intercepted.
Chargers intercept Mahomes and virtually fumble it away!
📺: #KCvsLAC on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/2An4So367O— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024
Even worse than the scoreboard on the time was how Mahomes’ turnover ended. Whereas cornerback Kristian Fulton was returning the ball close to the Chiefs’ sideline, he was being chased by Rashee Rice, Kansas Metropolis’s main receiver. Rice’s proper leg was bent backward when he bumped into Mahomes, who was utilizing his proper shoulder in an try to sort out Fulton.
Inside minutes, Rice was carted to the locker room, his fingers and a towel masking his face.
“Rashee made a very good play,” Mahomes stated. “I used to be attempting to sort out the man and clearly rolled up on him. If I simply don’t flip the ball over, that by no means occurs. I do know Rashee and the way powerful he’s. Him being down like that, I knew it wasn’t good. All we are able to do is pray that the X-rays and MRIs are higher than what it seemed.”
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Rice will bear an MRI of his knee on Monday morning. In accordance with a staff supply, the Chiefs concern that Rice tore his ACL, an harm that may finish his season. Getting into Sunday’s sport, Rice led the Chiefs with 24 receptions for 288 yards and two touchdowns.
“We’ll have to attend and see,” Reid stated. “I’m positive it’s not nearly as good of reports as we would like. The blokes all hung collectively they usually really feel horrible for Rashee as a result of he’s having a incredible yr.”
Rashee Rice seems inconsolable as he’s carted away pic.twitter.com/KD8rgo28Oz
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 29, 2024
Halfway by means of the second quarter, Mahomes discovered himself in a huddle with a gaggle of skill-position gamers he couldn’t have anticipated simply six weeks in the past — tight ends Travis Kelce and Noah Grey, operating backs Kareem Hunt and Perine, and a receiver corps of JuJu Smith-Schuster, Justin Watson, Skyy Moore and rookie Xavier Worthy.
This was not the offense the Chiefs projected to be earlier than the season started. However the Chiefs had been with out veteran receiver Marquise Brown (left shoulder), operating again Isiah Pacheco (proper fibula) and Rice.
It would make it that a lot harder for the Chiefs to outlive each staff’s greatest shot. However now others have the chance to step up like Worthy did simply earlier than halftime Sunday.
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Mahomes and Worthy got loads of time from the offensive line to attach on the longest connection of the season, a 54-yard landing.
“On the sideline, I instructed Pat, in all probability across the first quarter, ‘If we get this play name, I’m going to stutter somewhat bit (in the course of my fly route),’” Worthy stated. “It labored. It labored out similar to that, which is loopy.”
Xavier Worthy doing his factor.
📺: #KCvsLAC on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/s1k5ygK0ET— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024
The Chargers’ secondary gave Worthy a cushion of 8 yards earlier than the play began. Worthy, who ran the 40-yard sprint on the mix in a file 4.21 seconds, nonetheless sprinted previous two defenders, Fulton and security Alohi Gilman, earlier than catching the ball in the long run zone. The ball traveled 62.2 yards within the air, Mahomes’ longest completion by air distance of his eight-year profession, and Worthy reached a prime velocity of 21.46 mph, the third-fastest by a ball service within the league this season, in response to Subsequent Gen Stats.
“When it occurs and it really works in a sport, it’s simply plenty of enjoyable,” proper sort out Jawaan Taylor stated of the landing. “Momentum undoubtedly modified.”
Whereas the Chiefs offense wanted time to regulate after Rice’s harm, the protection, led by go rusher Chris Jones, started attacking the Chargers’ offensive line to disrupt Herbert. The Chargers had 4 possessions within the second quarter. They punted 4 instances.
“Early on, we’re attempting to determine what they’re attempting to do,” Tranquill stated. “They did plenty of motions, they had been in a position to get yardage on display performs they usually had a great sport plan. As the sport will get going, Spags (Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) is likely one of the greatest at feeling when he can name his pictures, and we knew they had been somewhat beat up on the O-line and there is perhaps some communication and chemistry points. We had been in a position to reap the benefits of that.”
After halftime, the Chargers’ greatest shot to regain the lead got here early within the fourth quarter.
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However Spagnuolo and his gamers had been in a position to manufacture one other clutch cease deep contained in the pink zone. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh determined to maintain the offense on the sector for a fourth-and-1 play from the Chiefs’ 3-yard line. Jones beat backup proper guard Sam Mustipher to generate speedy strain on Herbert, who threw an incompletion, the ball nowhere near a go catcher in the long run zone.
“It’s not only one play that’s vital sufficient to have an effect on the entire sport, however I believe there’s 4 or 5 performs that affected (this) sport,” Jones stated. “I watch sufficient movie the place I can perceive tendencies and then you definately’ve acquired to know what the groups love to do in sure conditions and formations.”
Jones dominated the road of scrimmage within the second half. He completed with a season-high two sacks and three quarterback hits.
The Chargers additionally by no means moved the ball previous midfield once more. Jones sacked Herbert on the Chargers’ final offensive snap on a third-and-11 play with lower than 4 minutes left.
“For my part, he’s probably the most dominant one-on-one go rusher within the NFL,” Tranquill stated of Jones. “He can rush inside and out of doors and we’re attempting each week to determine how we are able to get him a one-on-one as a result of his win fee is so excessive. Whenever you get him a one-on-one, the quarterback will not be going to have plenty of time.”
THE CEO STRIKES AGAIN 💪 @StoneColdJones pic.twitter.com/mDry7Ro1m2
— Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (@Chiefs) September 29, 2024
Via 4 video games, the Chiefs nonetheless have one of many league’s greatest defenses, even after buying and selling cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans within the offseason. The Chiefs have held their 4 opponents — the Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens — to 26 factors or fewer for a mean of 18 factors per sport.
“It’s a testomony to our coaches and (basic supervisor Brett) Veach bringing in the suitable guys and Spags,” Jones stated. “I don’t assume he will get sufficient credit score for the work he places in and the funding he makes within the gamers and to verify they’re at their greatest and what he’s in a position to pull out of us.”
On one drive within the fourth quarter, Mahomes and the remainder of the Chiefs offense managed to do what was essential to exit SoFi Stadium with one other win. Mahomes’ efficiency was disjointed, however he engineered a game-winning landing drive in simply 5 performs. The most important spotlight was Mahomes’ 29-yard go in the course of the sector to Grey. The play featured Kelce and rookie tight finish Jared Wiley blocking for Mahomes.
Perine made the game-winning rating on a 2-yard run into the tip zone.
“It’s nothing totally different than the primary three weeks,” Perine stated. “We’ve been doing this each week. I suppose we all know the way to win.”
(Picture of Chris Jones and Justin Herbert: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Photos)
