What Did We Learn from the Chiefs Victory over the Chargers in OT?

The Kansas City Chiefs would go on the road to Inglewood, California, and face the Los Angeles Chargers in a battle for the top of the AFC West. Kansas City came into the game facing an uphill battle, with the loss of some significant players. KC would be without defensive tackle Chris Jones, linebacker Willie Gay, and wide receiver Josh Gordon to Coivd-19. They would also be without cornerback L’Jarius Sneed due to the tragic loss of his brother. The game would have fans on edge the entire time. In the end, the Chiefs would pull off the victory in overtime 34 to 28.

A game that was filled with so much excitement and also disappointment. The future is bright for the AFC West as Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert will have numerous showdowns of significance. This Thursday Night Football slugfest was by far the best of the season. The Chiefs would look to their leadership as Patrick Mahomes would take charge by leading the offense down the field. Tight end Travis Kelce and wide receiver Tyreek Hill dominated the stat sheet.

Patrick Mahomes Stepped up for the Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes showed up when the team needed him the most. He would complete 37 out of 47 passes for 410 yards averaging 8.7 yards per attempt. The gunslinger would throw for three touchdowns and one interception. Mahomes would also rush three times for 32 yards and had one fumble. His ability to shake off the mistakes and come in clutch when it mattered speaks to the type of player he is. The leadership was unprecedented and on full display in this victory.

Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill Showed Leadership for the Chiefs

The offense stepped up in a big way, especially tight end Travis Kelce and wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Travis Kelce caught 10 out of 13 passes for a career-high 191 yards in a single game. He would also add two touchdowns. Kelce would have two game-changing catches in this game. The first would be a 69-yard reception, and the second would be a 34-yard reception to win in overtime. Tyreek Hill was just as impressive catching 12 out of 13 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown. Going into the game, Chiefs fans knew they would need to rely on these two perennial playmakers, and they came up big.

The Defense Played Stellar for the Chiefs

As stated above, the Chiefs would be without some significant playmakers on defense due to Covid-19. The defense did everything you could ask for by holding quarterback Justin Herbert to 22 of 38 for 236 yards and two touchdowns. He would throw one interception to linebacker Anthony Hitchens. A player that stood out in a big way was rookie linebacker, Nick Bolton. He would record 14 total tackles, three pass deflections, and one QB hit. Ben Niemann also stepped up by adding 9 total tackles and a fumble recovery on the 1-yard line. There is no question this defense played with heart as many were concerned they would struggle with the loss of their starters.

What Did We Learn from the Chiefs in the Victory?

The game lived up to the hype and was entertaining down to the last play. There was so much riding on this game that either team could have benefited from a win. The Kansas City Chiefs have now won seven games in a row and are looking to improve their playoff seeding as the Los Angeles Chargers are now competing to stay in the playoff race.

What did we learn from this game? The Chiefs can play good football and still have the ability to win important games. There was a lot of pressure cast upon this team heading into this Thursday Night Football game. The team also showed they can overcome adversity. Numerous times the defense was contested on the goal-line and they stood their ground. The offense showed up with it mattered after battling turnovers yet again. In an article previously written are the Chiefs the most feared team in the AFC West? I believe the question can be answered with a simple yes.

What Is Next for the Chiefs?

The Kansas City Chiefs will now have ten days between games to get healthy and prepare for their next opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers. KC will welcome the Steelers in Arrowhead Stadium on December 26th. The Chargers will go on the road to Houston and take on the Texans in their next game on December 26th.