In what turned out to be a grueling football contest on Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs held on to upset the New York Jets, 23-20, improving to 3-1 on the year.
With just over six minutes left in the game a 3rd-and-23 at midfield and a three-point lead, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes scrambled for 25 yards and a new set of downs to keep the series alive. On the ensuing drive, Kansas City successfully converted three further third downs, ending in a 9-yard scamper by Mahomes on third-and-8 that basically assured victory.
Mahomes turned in a crucial performance, overcoming two interceptions in the first half to make several key plays that allowed Kansas City to win the game.
“I just found out that you can only influence the next play, “The past is irrelevant, according to Mahomes. “You continue to throw. You continue to take a gamble and give your team a chance. The interceptions from the past don’t matter now. You must continue the struggle, and that is what I think.
A game that saw Kansas City start quickly but struggle for a large portion of the second and third quarters was saved by the Chiefs’ dramatic final drive, which took up more than seven minutes of time and included an astounding 15 plays. In fact, New York rallied from a 17-point deficit early on to score 12 straight points and tie the game by the middle of the third quarter.
The Jets were unable to score on any of their next three drives, but Kansas City’s defense was able to stem their momentum after their game-tying series. The first of those possessions started at New York’s own 47-yard line, and the second featured a 48-yard run by tailback Breece Hall, but the Chiefs’ defense remained solid despite the very trying conditions.
The most important thing, according to linebacker Drue Tranquill, was when defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo told us in the locker room that we still needed to play with the same level of self-assurance and mutual trust that we had the entire season. We were able to shut the door, as I believe you saw in the second half.
Harrison Butker’s go-ahead field goal from 26 yards was made possible by Patrick Mahomes’ 14-play, 80-yard drive that the Chiefs’ offense orchestrated early in the fourth quarter.
On the following drive, the Jets’ quarterback Zach Wilson fumbled the snap, and Chiefs defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton pounced on it. Then, Mahomes was in charge of Kansas City’s decisive 15-play series that ended the game.
While the game was a grind for the offense at times, Mahomes frequently stressed the Chiefs’ ability to overcome adversity in his postgame remarks. Mahomes completed 18 of 30 throws for 203 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in the game.
Finding ways to triumph is usually a positive thing. You can win pretty, but you also have to win ugly to win Super Bowls, I believe I’ve learned over the years here,” Mahomes said. “So, in my opinion, even if I detest it while it’s happening, winning games like this even when things aren’t going flawlessly makes you better in the long run. We attempted to achieve that last year, and we will attempt to do it once more this year.
Isiah Pacheco, a tailback, was quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ biggest playmaker on the evening. He carried for 115 yards and a touchdown and added three receptions for 43 yards. The second-year tailback scored a 48-yard touchdown run early in the game, but perhaps even more significantly, he had several difficult runs on the Chiefs’ last series that sustained the drive.
“Let’s finish,” I instructed the offensive line every time I entered the huddle, Pacheco said. We helped one another up and gave one other our all during the game.
Cole Christiansen, a linebacker, reportedly tore his hamstring, according to head coach Andy Reid. After the game, there were no other noteworthy injuries.
The Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs will square off this coming Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.