KANSAS CITY, Missouri (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs opened the season with three straight games that were decided in the final minute.
In two of them, a decision was only made in the final.
They could easily go winless in defending their recent Super Bowl title, but their uncanny ability to win games that come down to the wire — thanks to the genius of Andy Reid on the sidelines, Patrick Mahomes in the middle, or some combination of factors — has instead allowed them to start 3-0 and once again take control of the AFC West.
“Look, I don’t think you get used to it,” Reid mused Monday, less than 24 hours after Nick Bolton stopped Falcons running back Bijan Robinson on fourth down with 56 seconds left on Sunday night. secured the Chiefs’ 22:17 victory in Atlanta.
“It shouldn’t come to this. You try to score as many points as possible. But that’s the way it goes,” Reid said. “The trust that the guys have in each other – I know that’s easy to say, but when that’s actually the case, the guys know that something good is going to happen. That’s going to be very important.”
Especially when the games become really important.
The Chiefs were just 4-4 in games decided by a touchdown or less during the 2023 regular season, but they were 3-0 when their three playoff games were decided by that margin. That included the 25-22 overtime win over San Francisco that gave the Chiefs their second consecutive Lombardi Trophy and a chance to win an unprecedented third straight this year.
The Chiefs’ three playoff victories last year were also all decided by one touchdown or less, including the 38-35 victory over the Eagles that gave Reid and Mahomes their second Super Bowl rings.
“We didn’t play well. I mean, really, all three games,” Mahomes said after the win over the Falcons on Sunday night. “We were able to win. That speaks to the character of the team, the determination, how we’ve performed in these situations before.”
What works
The Chiefs were able to shut down their opponents’ running games. Derrick Henry of the Ravens managed 46 yards on 13 carries, Zack Moss of the Bengals ran 12 times for 34 yards and Robinson ran 16 times for 31 yards on Sunday.
“I started to name the guys, but it’s actually all of them, together. The whole front seven is doing a good job,” said Reid. “The safeties were also precise and physical in our tackles there, which was good.”
What needs to be processed?
The Chiefs have struggled to cover tight ends in their first three games, and it was Kyle Pitts who gave them trouble on Sunday night. He caught a 50-yard pass to set up the Falcons’ first touchdown and finished the game with two more catches for 59 yards.
Stock up
Rashee Rice has become Mahomes’ first choice, as Travis Kelce has been for many years. Against Atlanta, he caught 12 balls for 110 yards and a touchdown, giving him 24 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns in the first three games.
Inventory is decreasing
Kelce had another drop against the Falcons, finishing with four catches for 30 yards. He has just eight catches for 69 yards this season, but the attention he’s getting from defenses has helped Rice and others break free in the passing game.
“They’re working hard to take Kelce out of the game,” Reid said, “and Kelce says, ‘Hey, listen, if they do this, Rashee is going to make a lot of catches.’ Eventually, it’s going to settle in.”
Injuries
The Chiefs emerged from the game against Atlanta without any significant injuries.
Key number
131 — That’s the number of wins Reid has in Kansas City, surpassing his total from his time in Philadelphia. It took him just 182 games to reach that number with the Chiefs; it took him 224 games to reach 130 wins with the Eagles.
Next Steps
The Chiefs play the first of their two games against the Chargers on Sunday in Los Angeles. Kansas City has won the last five games and eight of the last 10 between the longtime AFC West rivals.
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