By DAVE SKRETTA
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — In a showdown between the Chiefs and Chargers, two of the league’s greatest groups led by two of the sport’s brilliant younger quarterbacks, an unheralded seventh-round draft choose who just a few years in the past was working alongside his mom in a Wendy’s restaurant stole the present.
The Chiefs’ Jaylen Watson picked off Justin Herbert on the purpose line early within the fourth quarter Thursday night time, headed the opposite method and was by no means touched on a 99-yard go-ahead landing that propelled Kansas City to a 27-24 victory.
“I don’t even remember what happened at that moment,” Watson mentioned later. “It’s all so surreal.”
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for 235 yards with TD passes to Jerick McKinnon and Justin Watson, and fill-in kicker Matt Ammendola was good instead of injured Harrison Butker. But it was the Chiefs’ protection, and Watson’s highlight-reel interception, that allowed Kansas City (2-0) to beat its early issues in an early divisional check.
“The thing that I’m most proud of,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid mentioned, “is that we stuck together. Nobody pointed any fingers.”
Two collection after Watson’s go-ahead landing, issues obtained even worse for the Chargers (1-1) when Herbert was drilled by defensive finish Mike Danna whereas delivering a throw. He left the sector clutching his facet, returned one play later, then threw an incompletion that compelled the Chargers to punt whereas trailing 24-17.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire promptly break up the protection on a 52-yard run to arrange a area purpose for Kansas City.
Herbert, who completed with 334 yards and three landing passes, gamely tried to maintain the Chargers alive. He threw a 36-yard dart on fourth down to increase their ensuing possession, then hit Joshua Palmer behind the top zone on fourth-and-goal to drag Los Angeles inside 27-24 with simply over a minute to go.
Kansas City recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock to finish the sport.
“You’re not going to see a quarterback in any level of football play tougher and do more for his team and will his team and give them a chance than him,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley mentioned of Herbert, who was getting X-rays and wasn’t obtainable after the sport. “There’s nobody who can do what he can do. Nobody. He showed a lot of guts. He showed what he shows us every day, that we’re never out of the fight. He brought us back and gave us a chance.”
The extremely anticipated showdown between two of the league’s most prolific quarterbacks, every surrounded by premier playmakers, turned out early on to be a defensive slugfest.
The Chargers held the Chiefs to 13 yards within the first quarter, because of relentless stress from Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack and the truth that Derwin James Jr. was nearly in all places, and saved a staff that scored 44 factors final week in Arizona off the scoreboard till Mahomes slung a sidearm move to McKinnon early within the second quarter.
The Chargers fared higher offensively, regardless that Staley opted to play conservatively, twice punting on fourth-and-2 close to midfield. Dustin Hopkins kicked an early area purpose earlier than Mike Williams, dominating smaller Chiefs defensive backs, put the Chargers in place for Zander Horvath to catch a brief TD move.
Staley lastly went for it on fourth down on the opening drive of the second half. And one play after Austin Ekeler picked it up, Williams made a one-handed seize round Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to offer the Chargers a 17-7 lead.
The recreation gave the impression to be getting away from the Chiefs when Mahomes was intercepted by Asante Samuel Jr. on their subsequent possession. But replays confirmed Samuel didn’t management the ball and the decision was overturned, and Mahomes capitalized on his second likelihood by throwing a 41-yard strike to Justin Watson for a landing.
The Chiefs tied it 17-all on the primary play of the fourth quarter when Ammendola, who was signed earlier this week, knocked by a chip shot on fourth down on the purpose line.
That arrange Jaylen Watson’s pick-6 and the primary lead Kansas City had all night time.
“This is what it’s going to be. We know we’re playing in the toughest division,” Chiefs security Justin Reid mentioned. “We know we’re going to get everyone’s best shot. We have to come out and we have to perform.”
PRIME TIME
The recreation was the primary within the $13 billion, 11-year deal between the NFL and Amazon Prime to solely stream Thursday night time video games. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos joined NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on the sideline earlier than kickoff.
INJURIES
Chargers C Corey Linsley (knee) and RT Trey Pipkins III (ankle) left within the third quarter. … Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman damage his ankle within the third quarter however returned to the sport. … Danna left within the fourth quarter with a calf damage.
UP NEXT
The Chargers return house to face Jacksonville on Sept. 25. The Chiefs go to Indianapolis the identical day.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com”