Image by Robert Gauthier


December 09, 2024 Tags:

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Andy Reid can probably skip that stress test for now; he seems to experience one every week.

On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs coach watched as his third-string kicker narrowly made a 31-yard field goal off the left upright, securing a victory and the Chiefs' ninth consecutive AFC West title. The win also marked their 15th straight victory in one-score games over the last two seasons.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs (12-1), the two-time reigning Super Bowl champions, on a crucial 4 1/2-minute drive to set up Matthew Wright’s fourth field goal. As the ball bounced off the upright, Kansas City once again escaped with a narrow win, improving to 10-0 in one-score games this season.

Remarkably, the Chiefs have had three different kickers deliver game-winning field goals as time expired this year, setting an NFL record for the most by any team in a single season.

With the clock winding down, Mahomes and Reid opted to play it safe, running down the clock to set up the game-winning kick rather than attempting a touchdown that could leave time for Justin Herbert and the Chargers to respond.

"I trusted Matthew, so I was good with where we were," Reid said. "The percentages are pretty high. I wasn't too worried about it."

Wright, however, admitted to feeling uneasy as the ball veered toward the upright. "It’s not a good one," he said. "I wanted it to go right down the middle, obviously."

With this victory, the Chiefs' nine consecutive division titles are now just two away from the NFL record of 11, set by the New England Patriots.

Kansas City held a 13-0 lead at halftime after the Chargers (8-5) struggled, punting on their first five possessions. However, Los Angeles came alive in the second half, scoring on each of their three drives. A 37-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker put the Chargers ahead 17-16 with just over 4 minutes left.

"We just had to settle in," Herbert said, noting that the Chargers didn't execute well in the first half. "We weren't moving the ball well, but we stayed patient and made plays when it mattered."

Mahomes quickly responded, converting a third-and-10 pass to Xavier Worthy for 14 yards and running for another first down. With under two minutes left, Mahomes avoided a tackle and found tight end Travis Kelce, who was wide open, to set up the clock-killing drive.

"I went through my reads, and then I saw 87 (Kelce) sitting in the middle of the field wide open," Mahomes said.

Kelce's clutch play came as no surprise to Mahomes, who praised the tight end for being a reliable leader. "He’s someone I can always go to, and he’s going to make a big play happen," Mahomes said.

Though Mahomes was sacked three times, his resilience remained evident. Over the past three games, he’s been sacked 13 times, marking the most sacks in any three-game stretch of his career.

The Chargers fought back in the second half, starting with a 79-yard drive capped by a 3-yard touchdown run from Gus Edwards. After a Chiefs punt, Los Angeles scored again with a 74-yard drive, taking a 14-13 lead. Herbert found Quentin Johnson for a 4-yard touchdown, marking the Chargers' first TD pass in 13 quarters.

Kansas City responded with Wright’s third field goal of the day, a 50-yarder, after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty pushed them back.

Mahomes also passed Dan Marino for the most passing yards in the first eight years of a career during the Chiefs' opening drive.

Late in the first half, Herbert took a hit from Kansas City linebacker Nick Bolton, forcing him to miss a play. The Chiefs capitalized with a 9-play, 77-yard drive that ended with a touchdown catch from DeAndre Hopkins, giving them a 13-0 lead at halftime, their largest of the season.

Kelce, who finished with 45 yards receiving, reached a career milestone of 12,010 yards, making him the fastest tight end to reach 12,000 yards. He now trails only Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten for most receiving yards by a tight end.

Injuries played a part in the game as well, with Herbert briefly leaving the field after the hit from Bolton. Tight end Will Dissly also left with a right shoulder injury, and wide receiver Jalen Reagor was injured in the third quarter. For the Chiefs, tackle DJ Humphries left the game with a hamstring injury.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

You may also like

McDavid Shines, Oilers Rally Past Wild 5-3 for Another Win

The Edmonton Oilers continued their dominant streak with a thrilling 5-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night, marking....

5 Olympians Lead Volleyball Canada’s 2025 Beach Team Roster

Volleyball Canada has unveiled its 2025 beach volleyball national team roster, featuring a blend of seasoned Olympians and rising talents.....

Connor Shines with a Quick Hat Trick as Jets Crush Canucks 6-1

Kyle Connor stole the show on Tuesday, leading the Winnipeg Jets to a commanding 6-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.....

NHL Highlights: Blue Jackets Top Flyers in Shootout, Capitals Secure Shutout

The Columbus Blue Jackets pulled off a thrilling 3-2 shootout victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in Ohio. Kent Johnson and....

McDavid’s Goal Secures Oilers’ 1-0 Win Over Kings

Connor McDavid celebrated his 28th birthday in style, scoring the lone goal in the Edmonton Oilers’ narrow 1-0 victory over....

Rams Crush Vikings In Playoff Game Relocated Due To Wildfires

The Los Angeles Rams dominated the Minnesota Vikings in a one-sided NFC wild-card playoff game on Monday night, winning 27-9.....

Commanders Clinch Dramatic Playoff Win, End 18-Year Wait

The Washington Commanders clinched their first playoff win since 2005, edging past the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20 in an electrifying....

Ohio State Eyes 6th Title After 28-14 Cotton Bowl Win Over Texas

ARLINGTON, Texas — Ohio State secured a 28-14 victory over Texas in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night, powered by....

Staal, Hurricanes Outshine Maple Leafs' Stars in a Shocker

The Toronto Maple Leafs' five-game winning streak came to a halt on Thursday as they were defeated 6-3 by the....

Huberdeau’s OT Goal Lifts Flames to 3-2 Win Over Ducks

In a thrilling showdown in Anaheim on Tuesday night, Jonathan Huberdeau secured a much-needed win for the Calgary Flames with....

Outdoor NHL Games Set to Thrill Florida Fans in 2026

Florida is set to make hockey history in 2026 as the NHL brings two outdoor games to the Sunshine State.....

Maple Leafs Win 5th Straight, Defeat Flyers 3-2

The Toronto Maple Leafs extended their winning streak to five games by defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in a thrilling....