On Sunday, it was the Chiefs’ defense that stepped forward and won the game, even though it went down to the final play.
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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Albert Wilson (12) gets past a…
That’s seven straight victories for the Chiefs, who improved to 8-5 with a 10-3 win over the Chargers Sunday.
“If you’re going to be a good football team, you have to win games like this”, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said.
The Chiefs spilled onto the field to celebrate another big win in their playoff chase.
Outside of the immediate future against Kansas City, of course. Two seconds remained on the clock, however, and the next play was broken up by Eric Berry.
The slick conditions made catching passes a real problem for San Diego’s receivers, but no one would have expected sure-handed Malcom Floyd to have the drop that he did on a deep pass with no defenders around. San Diego was trailing 10-3 and converted multiple third and fourth downs, getting to the Kansas City 1-yard line.
There were still two seconds left, and another incomplete pass that would have ended the game was negated by a false start.
But after the Chiefs’ offense again came up empty, Rivers – a longtime nemesis – got the ball back at his own 11-yard line with five minutes left.
Despite totaling just 280 yards of offense – 100 yards below their season average – the Chargers had a change to tie the score on final play of the game.
The third-year pro finished with seven tackles Sunday, including a tackle for a loss. “It was tough. We got down there, had our chance”. While field conditions appeared solid, it was impossible for either team to keep the football dry and the chains moving.
The Chiefs’ win streak lives on. “He’s got to do a better job protecting it”.
GORDON GROUNDED: First-round draft pick Melvin Gordon struggled once again, rushing for just 34 yards on 15 carries. His 44-yard catch and run for a touchdown was his second this season of 40 yards or more.
Linebacker Josh Mauga has said, “We knew we dug ourselves in a hole in the beginning of the year, but we’re been battling back every week”. “We got put into some situations, probably, where we had to pass the ball”. Alex Smith has been excellent at taking care of the ball, throwing only three interceptions against 14 touchdowns and developing a strong rapport with Maclin, who leads the team in receptions (66), receiving yards (867) and receiving touchdowns (five). The turnover at the hands of Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett left Smith 47 attempts shy of breaking Tom Brady’s record of 358.
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Facing a second-and-4 at the Chargers’ 44, Smith spotted the Chargers in Cover 0, which means zero safety help. “Obviously, the streak’s over so I don’t have to answer those questions anymore”.
