Even when they look like they’re out of it, well, the Chiefs aren’t really out of it
For all the sense of spectacle hovering about the state-of-the-art $5.1 billion SoFi Stadium, the pandemic renders that a paradox right now:
With no fans allowed in, the atmosphere is a void, particularly notable on what might otherwise have been a celebratory inaugural game here for the Los Angeles Chargers a week after the Rams christened the stadium by playing host to the Cowboys.
After playing their opener at Arrowhead Stadium before some 16,000 fans allowed in under their own set of safety protocols, the Chiefs were plenty conscious of what the contrast would be without the boost they normally get both at home … and typically even from traveling fans here in southern California.
They’d have to create their own energy, they said all week. And dynamic as they’d been in winning their last 10 games overall, including in their postseason run to winning Super Bowl LIV, their conviction was convincing. Consider, too, their recent dominance of the Chargers (winning 11 of the last 12) and AFC West (29 of the last 32), and the day figured to be more of the same.
Instead, we got a crazy mishmash of a 23-20 overtime win (on Harrison Butker’s second club-record-tying 58-yard field goal of the game) for the Chiefs in a game that illustrated their vulnerabilities and reminded us that nothing in the NFL must automatically stay the same but also reinforced their essence.
With Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, they always can, and almost always do, find a way.
Even on a day he threw for 14 yards in the first quarter and 60 in the first half and most of the game was outshined by Chargers’ quarterback Justin Herbert, a rookie inserted in the lineup only after starter Tyrod Taylor was injured before the game.
“Early in the game I just wasn’t playing up to par,” Mahomes said.
Even on a day when the Chiefs were off-kilter from the get-go, finishing the first half with more punts (three) than pass completions (two) and first downs (two).
Even on a day when the offensive line often looked overmatched, and the defensive line had trouble generating any pressure and they committed 11 penalties for 90 yards after committing one for five yards in the opener.
Even on a day when it seemed like Chiefs players were limping off the field every few plays.
“Things weren’t going very well for us on either side of the ball,” coach Andy Reid said.
Somehow, there still was something inevitable about Mahomes, set up with a little help from Butker’s first 58-yard field goal that cut the Chargers lead to 17-9 and rookie L’Jarius Sneed’s interception of Herbert at the Kansas City 5-yard-line late in the third quarter.
Next thing you know, the Chiefs cut it to 17-15 on Mahomes’ 54-yard pass to Tyreek Hill, part of what Reid called “a special connection” between them.
“I just put it out there as far as I (could),” Mahomes said, smiling.
Which a moment later became the second-most riveting throw on the drive when Mahomes no-look lasered a throw to Mecole Hardman for the two-point conversion.
But the Chargers weren’t buckling, and they took 10 minutes 21 seconds off the clock to kick the go-ahead field goal with 2:30 left. And it got dire for the Chiefs again, facing third and 20, when Mahomes took off for a first down that ultimately set up Butker’s 30-yard field goal to send it to overtime with three seconds left in regulation.
Incidentally, Mahomes led the Chiefs in rushing with six carries for 54 yards.
Then he helped pave the way to Butker’s game-winning kick, giving the Chiefs a victory once more after trailing for the sixth straight game — including four by double digits.
And whatever else you come away from this game with, that’s the most substantial takeaway. There is always going to be flux and ebb and flow in NFL games, especially early after the peculiar offseason caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus that led to the cancellation of preseason games.
Despite the Chiefs successes of late, the margin for error remains thin.
And wins count the same whether gritty or pretty.
“You have to be able to do this in this league,” Reid said.
So they found a way this time, and now Baltimore looms next.
The Chiefs might look more beatable now, but this game also flexed a muscle that says they will find a way as long as Mahomes is involved.
This story was originally published September 20, 2020 at 7:36 PM with the headline "Even when they look like they’re out of it, well, the Chiefs aren’t really out of it."