KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In a showdown between the Chiefs and Chargers, two of the league’s finest groups led by two of the sport’s vibrant younger quarterbacks, an unheralded seventh-round draft choose who just a few years in the past was working alongside his mom in a Wendy’s restaurant stole the present.
The Chiefs’ Jaylen Watson picked off Justin Herbert on the aim line early within the fourth quarter Thursday evening, headed the opposite method and was by no means touched on a 99-yard go-ahead landing that propelled Kansas Metropolis to a 27-24 victory.
“I don’t even keep in mind what occurred at that second,” Watson mentioned later. “It’s all so surreal.”
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for 235 yards with TD passes to Jerick McKinnon and Justin Watson, and fill-in kicker Matt Ammendola was excellent instead of injured Harrison Butker. Nevertheless it was the Chiefs’ protection, and Watson’s highlight-reel interception, that allowed Kansas Metropolis (2-0) to beat its early issues in an early divisional take a look at.
“The factor that I’m most happy with,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid mentioned, “is that we caught collectively. No person pointed any fingers.”
Two collection after Watson’s go-ahead landing, issues obtained even worse for the Chargers (1-1) when Herbert was drilled by defensive finish Mike Danna whereas delivering a throw. He left the sector clutching his facet, returned one play later, then threw an incompletion that compelled the Chargers to punt whereas trailing 24-17.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire promptly break up the protection on a 52-yard run to arrange a subject aim for Kansas Metropolis.
Herbert, who completed with 334 yards and three landing passes, gamely tried to maintain the Chargers alive. He threw a 36-yard dart on fourth down to increase their ensuing possession, then hit Joshua Palmer at the back of the tip zone on fourth-and-goal to tug Los Angeles inside 27-24 with simply over a minute to go.
Kansas Metropolis recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock to finish the sport.
“You’re not going to see a quarterback in any stage of soccer play more durable and do extra for his staff and can his staff and provides them an opportunity than him,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley mentioned of Herbert, who was getting X-rays and wasn’t accessible after the sport. “There’s no one who can do what he can do. No person. He confirmed a number of guts. He confirmed what he reveals us day-after-day, that we’re by no means out of the battle. He introduced us again and gave us an opportunity.”
The extremely anticipated showdown between two of the league’s most prolific quarterbacks, every surrounded by premier playmakers, turned out early on to be a defensive slugfest.
The Chargers held the Chiefs to 13 yards within the first quarter, because of relentless strain from Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack and the truth that Derwin James Jr. was nearly in every single place, and saved a staff that scored 44 factors final week in Arizona off the scoreboard till Mahomes slung a sidearm go to McKinnon early within the second quarter.
The Chargers fared higher offensively, though Staley opted to play conservatively, twice punting on fourth-and-2 close to midfield. Dustin Hopkins kicked an early subject aim earlier than Mike Williams, dominating smaller Chiefs defensive backs, put the Chargers in place for Zander Horvath to catch a brief TD go.
Staley lastly went for it on fourth down on the opening drive of the second half. And one play after Austin Ekeler picked it up, Williams made a one-handed seize round Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to present the Chargers a 17-7 lead.
The sport gave the impression to be getting away from the Chiefs when Mahomes was intercepted by Asante Samuel Jr. on their subsequent possession. However replays confirmed Samuel didn’t management the ball and the decision was overturned, and Mahomes capitalized on his second probability by throwing a 41-yard strike to Justin Watson for a landing.
The Chiefs tied it 17-all on the primary play of the fourth quarter when Ammendola, who was signed earlier this week, knocked via a chip shot on fourth down on the aim line.
That arrange Jaylen Watson’s pick-6 and the primary lead Kansas Metropolis had all evening.
“That is what it’s going to be. We all know we’re taking part in within the hardest division,” Chiefs security Justin Reid mentioned. “We all know we’re going to get everybody’s finest shot. We've to come back out and we have now to carry out.”
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