After three possessions for each team, the score was 21-3 San Diego. Touchdown drives of 75, 80 and 38. No turnovers yet for either team. Just one team struggling on offense including a -18 yard drive. And the other team marching down the field at will.
The Chiefs defense finally got one stop after a punt pinned the Chargers inside their 10, but the Chiefs offense was unable to get anything going.
Rivers was 16 of 20 in the first half, 151 yards, 1 td, 0 int. There was no pass rush or coverage. He was completing everything. His #1 receiver, Keenan Allen went down right before the end of the first half.
Halftime: Chargers 21, Chiefs 3
The Chiefs first drive of the second half? -4 yards.
With 6 minutes to go in the 3rd, the Chargers tacked on a field goal. 24-3.
At this point, it looked like not only would the Chiefs lose this game, but it looked like their season was spiraling out of control. They looked so bad. If the Chargers were rolling through them like this, a team like Denver or Carolina could put up 50. And the Chiefs offense was no better. Alex Smith looked afraid to throw, taking sacks he shouldn't have. It was a mess.
It was time to unleash everything.
On the first play of the drive Smith goes deep to Ware. 45 yard completion.
But moments later, it's 4th and 5 at the SD 25. They're in field goal range but 3 points isn't good enough. Down three touchdowns, Reid goes for it with 4 minutes to go in the 3rd quarter. Complete to Kelce. And two plays later, the Chiefs get their first TD, a screen pass to the rookie Hill.
I'm looking at the clock, 24-10 in the 3rd quarter isn't impossible anymore. You can get two stops and two scores, but little margin for error. And as I'm thinking this, Rivers completes a 38-yard pass and the Chargers in the red zone. A TD puts this game basically out of reach.
Chiefs D gets a stop and the Chargers settle for 3.
13 minutes to go. Chargers 27, Chiefs 10.
There's so much in football to explain to children. I'm telling the boys about that there's four quarters, and now that we're in the last quarter so there's only 13 minutes to go and the Chiefs are losing by 17 so they need to get 7 points very quickly when Alex Smith throws an interception. It was a really incredible play by Verrett. And that's when I think it's finally over.
The Chargers have the ball at our 44. They gain 8 yards on three plays and settle for a field goal attempt. Except they miss the 54-yarder. So we start on our own 44. The interception only cost us a minute and a half. Still alive, barely.
11 minutes to go. Chargers 27, Chiefs 10.
This time, the Chiefs go no huddle. They convert another 4th down. In the game, that's 5/14 on 3rd down, but 2/2 on 4th down.
And then Smith throws a perfect ball to Maclin at the pylon. Back shoulder throw and catch that I see Brady do all the time. It was amazing.
Even more amazing, there's over 9 minutes left. The whole interception, missed field goal, drive down the field only took a little over 3 minutes. It's a 10-point game with 9 to play.
First play for the Chargers is a 20 yard pass. But then they run it twice and can't pick up the 3rd down conversion. So they're punting.
KC takes over at their own 23 with 6:49 to go. Again, thinking back to the playoff game. We need to score quickly.
Chiefs convert two third downs on the drive but not three. They settle for a field goal from the SD 15, but 3 minutes left and Chiefs have two timeouts.
Run up the middle, 2 yards.
Pass right, -2 yards.
Pass left, no gain.
3 and out. And the punt, my god the punt!
Rookie Drew Kaser punting from his on 25, kicks it short and wobbly across midfield, but it bounces backward, rolling until it stops at the SD 42. A 17-yard punt.
After losing the whole game, the Chiefs had 1:49 and one timeout to go 42 yards.
From the 32, Smith fires down to the field. Placing it perfectly for Maclin. Completion plus penalty. Ware would rush it in on the next play.
Andy Reid, famed for not being able to manage the clock, had just scored 24 points in the last 17 minutes. Still has a timeout even.
1 minute to go. Chargers 27, Chiefs 27.
Dee Ford picked a good time to get the Chiefs first and only sack of the day. San Diego would punt on this drive as well ending regulation.
Overtime.
The Chiefs win the toss. I'm explaining to Brit how overtime isn't sudden death anymore when the Chargers are offside on the kickoff. KC starts at the 30.
And then Smith pulls this out of his ass. On the run, the ball traveling 30 yards in the air perfectly placed for Ware. Jesus.
They convert a 3rd down to Kelce and go back to him later for this beauty.
At this point, a field goal is a gimme. But they want to end this. Ware sets up a 3rd and goal from the 2. I was thinking if they don't get it in, would Reid go for it on 4th down from the 1 in OT? Or kick the field goal?
But he didn't have to. Because of Alex Smith.
Biggest comeback in franchise history. The Chiefs and Broncos are 1-0.
- - -
KC Possessions
Field Goal
Punt
Punt
Punt
Punt
---halftime---
Punt
Touchdown
Interception
Touchdown
Field Goal
Touchdown
---overtime---
Touchdown
SD Possessions
Touchdown
Touchdown
Touchdown
Punt
Kneel
---halftime---Punt
Field Goal
Field Goal
Missed Field Goal
Punt
Punt
Punt
The KC defense gave up 5.25 points per drive in the first half, not counting the kneel down.
The KC defense gave up .85 points per drive in the second half.
The KC offense scored .6 points per drive in the first half.
The KC offense scored 4.28 points per drive in the second half and overtime.
- - -
Over the last 21 minutes of regulation here were the possessions:
Touchdown
Field Goal
Interception
Missed Field Goal
Touchdown
Punt
Field Goal
Punt
Touchdown
Punt
---overtime---
Touchdown
- - -
No comments:
Post a Comment