The Chiefs lost an opener for the third time in Andy Reid’s tenure, and they dropped their first international game, 27-21 to the Los Angeles Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Another streak came to an end: the Chiefs had won an NFL record 17 straight one-possession games.
KC STAR OF THE GAME
Patrick Mahomes did his best to keep the Chiefs in it. His fourth down, 49-yard strike to Marquise “Hollywood” Brown in the fourth quarter was clutch. Mahomes finished with 258 passing yards and a touchdown.
Next: The Chiefs meet the team that vanquished them in Super Bowl LIX, the Philadelphia Eagles. The game is set for Sunday, Sept. 14, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff is 3:25 p.m., and the game is on FOX (Channel 4 in KC).
REPORT CARD
Passing offense: B
Mahomes’ 37-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce was a perfect call, Kelce faked blocking a wide receiver screen, and leaked open down the right sideline for the score. But the two-point conversion pass to Noah Gray failed when Chargers lineman Teair Tart batted down the pass. He’s the same player who delivered an open-hand slap to Kelce earlier in the game and wasn’t ejected.
Mahomes’ first incompletion changed the Chiefs game plan. Xavier Worthy ran into Travis Kelce and suffered a game-ending shoulder injury. Before the first half was over, Hollywood Brown dropped a pass and Mahomes twice overthrew Tyquan Thornton before finally connecting on a 35-yarder that set up the last-play field goal.
Rushing offense: C
Mahomes got the running game going himself. His 11-yard run gave the Chiefs their first touchdown of the season, and he lowered his shoulder to deliver punishment after a first-down run in the second half. Mahomes finished with 57 rushing yards to lead the Chiefs. The best early moments came when the Chiefs picked up a pair of fourth downs on their 16-play drive that produced a field goal. The Chiefs brought on an extra tackle, Jaylon Moore, both times. Kareem Hunt picked up the tough yards both times, first on a run, then a reception.
Passing defense: F
When the Chiefs needed a stop, to at least hold the Chargers to a field goal in the fourth quarter, Chargers QB Justin Herbert then rolled down the field, completing all eight passes including his second touchdown to Quentin Johnson. That the Chiefs could hardly bother Herbert without blitzing — and often not even then — was the most alarming development of the night for the Chiefs.
Rushing defense: D
The biggest play of the game: Herbert’s 19-yard keeper on third-and-14 just before the two-minute warning. Get a stop there, and LA punts to the Chiefs with a six-point lead. Chris Jones, had outside contain, but he went inside to give Herbert the running lane. Just a horrible game all around for the Chiefs defense.
Special teams: C
Huge effort to get the field goal to end the first half. You could see Dave Toub directing traffic to get the unit on the field as the seconds ticked away, and Butker nailed a 59-yarder. But how could Butker miss the extra point after the Chiefs’ second touchdown? That seemed to halt the Chiefs momentum.
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