Defensive resiliency lifts Chiefs to win over Chargers | KCSN Daily 9.16
Plus injury updates, quotes and all the latest Chiefs news.
Welcome back for a victory Friday issue of KCSN Daily.
The new defense for the Kansas City Chiefs has played a big part in each of their first two victories. On Thursday night against the Los Angeles Chargers, the defensive resiliency deserves much more credit than it has received so far.
“Yeah, I mean we just hung around. I think that’s the biggest thing,” Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes said following the game. “The defense kept us in the game. Offense, we didn’t play our best football. I think the defense, that was huge for them to keep us in that game, make some plays, get points on the board and then just give us a chance. I think with a young defense like that, to see that this early in the season, I think that’s going to carry us the rest of the way.”
When the Chiefs went down 10-0 early on, the defense stepped up and allowed the offense some opportunities to get back into the game. KCSN’s Matt Lane noted that six of the next eight Chargers’ possessions after they went down 10-0 (excluding the kneel down at the end of the half) resulted in punts. They only allowed a combined 75 yards of offense on those six possessions.
This, of course, came after Mike Williams had gashed the defense for some big plays through the air. The team could have easily rolled over after they failed to find early success, but they kept chiseling away at their opponent. They found greater success on each side of the ball with every gained opportunity.
“The best thing that we did today is we stuck together as a team," Justin Reid said following the game. "Nobody got on each other’s tail. We stayed together. We kept playing the next play. When crunch time came, players made big plays. Shout out to Jaylen (Watson). I thought he had an incredible game coming in as a rookie and being lined up a lot of the time on their best player 81 (Mike Williams). 81 (Mike Williams) made some plays today, but overall as a defense we came out (and) limited most of the big throws, made them drive down the field, and in crunch time made the plays that needed to be made.”
Chiefs vs. Chargers LIVE Postgame REACTION:
Watch BJ Kissel, Kent Swanson, and more go live from the Kingdom Bar and Grille in Overland Park, Kansas following the Kansas City Chiefs game against the Los Angeles Chargers to break it all down.
Andy Reid’s postgame injury report:
“Alright, as far as the injuries go, we got a couple, Mike Danna strained his calf. And then, I mean really for the most part that was it. (Mecole) Hardman hurt his ankle on the one deep one. (Marquez Valdes-)Scantling had a little bit of a – all these guys came back in. Justin Watson on the onside kick hurt his shoulder just a little bit.”
KCSN Update:
Listen to KCSN’s BJ Kissel sit down with Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus to get his three key takeaways from the Kansas City Chiefs’ big win against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Quotable:
“Yeah, I just thought at that point we had a couple of things we liked, but we said, ‘Let’s kick it. Let’s get points on the board. Come out positive.’ Our defense was rising up and I didn’t want our offense to have a let down there if things didn’t work out. I thought it was important (to) come out with points there.” - Andy Reid’s reasoning for not going for it on fourth-and-goal
“I mean you never know. I think that’s - you saw the ball hit the ground, you saw a little bit of movement - but they have been a little bit more lenient on letting the ball move and if the guy gets his hands underneath it. So, you hope that it’s overturned obviously, but on the play they got me. They were all game. They were playing one coverage and out of nowhere they threw me with a shell coverage with a corner who had been playing just kind of getting out of there the whole time. He dropped down to play cover 2 and so it got me. I don’t throw just straight to guys most times and so (we) got lucky enough that it bounced around, hit the ground and I was able to get another chance at it. I’m sure PFF will have me at a low grade for that, but I’ll keep rolling.” - Patrick Mahomes on the interception that was overturned
Quick Hits:
From NFL Network: The Chiefs are hopeful that it’ll be a four-week recovery for CB Trent McDuffie, who is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. NFL Network’s James Palmer reports that it’s possible it could be more like a six-week recovery. That’d mean he wouldn’t be back until after the bye week.
From FOX 4 KC: A memorial service for Hall of Fame QB Len Dawson was held in Kansas City on Friday. A number of members of the organization, past and present, stopped by to pay their respects to the iconic QB and broadcaster.
From the Chiefs: The team showed a clip of Jaylen Watson’s 99-yard touchdown return that will be featured in the upcoming episode of “The Franchise” next Thursday.
Important dates ahead:
Sunday, Sept. 25 at Noon CT - Week 3: Chiefs vs. Colts - Lucas Oil Stadium - Indianapolis, Indiana
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