Midway through the early games in Week 1 of the 2016 National Football League season, the most shocking development was the dominance of the San Diego Chargers against the Kansas City Chiefs.
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Russell Wilson connected with wide receiver Doug Baldwin on a 2-yard touchdown pass with 31 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter as the Seattle Seahawks rallied for a 12-10 win over Miami, spoiling Adam Gase’s debut as the Dolphins’ head coach. He ended the year with 67 catches for 725 yards and four touchdowns in eight games.
In overtime, the Chiefs went 75 yards before Smith – checking out of the original play – kept the ball over the right side of the line and slipped through a crease into the end zone. The Chiefs sacked and pressured Rivers just three times, which was good enough this week but won’t be against a better team.
That all changed once the fourth quarter began. The four-time Pro Bowl running back is still recovering from surgery last season to fix his ACL and was inactive Sunday (see full recap).
In the game’s final 25 minutes, Smith threw for 262 yards on 24 of 32 passing, with three total touchdowns.
Kelce, a Pro Bowl tight end, finished with six catches for 74 yards, but the real offensive stalwart this day was Ware, who had 199 yards rushing-receiving.
Allen was having a big day for the Chargers, who led 21-3 at the time of injury.
“It was just a group of players making a play”, Hill said in an interview with the Kansas City Star.
The Chiefs have looked to Smith numerous times during three seasons as their quarterback for that late-game spark. But it really hit its stride when the Chargers missed a 54-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, giving Kansas City some desperately needed momentum. It was his way of standing beside 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s stance on social injustice.
“This is how I felt when he came out of college”, Reid said. “I’m just going to get eyes on him and see where he’s at”.
Peters did link his left arm with his teammates as country singer Trace Adkins performed the anthem.
“I heard him say they were going to a review and sometimes on those goal line plays you have no idea what might show up”, Smith said.
Allen missed the last eight games of the 2015 season after suffering a lacerated kidney.
Quarterback Joe Flacco appeared fully recovered from last year’s season-ending knee injury and helped the Baltimore Ravens escape with a 13-7 home victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Chiefs linebacker Sam Barrington left in the second half with a hamstring injury.
The Browns had that No. 2 overall selection before they traded it to the Eagles, as they apparently didn’t think Wentz was worth that high a pick. “Normally that does not happen, but that was one of those insane situations and I wanted to make sure were right and not wrong in who we had out there”.
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Be Civil – It’s OK to have a difference in opinion but there’s no need to be a jerk. It gave them good field position and we still have to stop them.
