The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs secured one other nail-biting victory in Week 2, beating the Cincinnati Bengals in an exciting 26-25 Sunday afternoon matchup. As has typically been the case between these two AFC rivals, the sport got here all the way down to the wire, with Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker nailing the game-winning 51-yard area aim as time expired.
“I can’t say sufficient about Butker and that kick,” head coach Andy Reid mentioned postgame. “He’s so dependable, and we simply recognize how he goes about his enterprise. Pretty much as good a kicker as he’s, he’s an excellent higher individual. I recognize him all the way in which round.”
It wasn’t Kansas Metropolis’s cleanest efficiency, as self-inflicted errors all through the sport culminated with them trailing 25-23 with lower than two minutes remaining within the fourth quarter. Three turnovers — together with two interceptions by quarterback Patrick Mahomes —put the Chiefs in a gap, however they managed to mount a vital closing drive, which arrange Butker’s go-ahead area aim. The shut victory was a testomony to the workforce’s grit and big-game expertise.
“Till the time hits zero, there’s an opportunity you may win the soccer sport,” Mahomes defined. “We’ve performed that in so many various methods, so we’re ready. We are available in with the mentality that if we get the soccer with an opportunity to win, we’re going to do it. We had been in a position to do this in the present day.”
And whereas Mahomes admits to being nervous about not having the result instantly positioned on his shoulders, he had full confidence in Butker’s potential to execute when the workforce wanted him to essentially the most.
“I’m clearly nervous as a result of it’s out of my arms,” Mahomes admitted. “I don’t have an opportunity to go on the market and make a play. However on the similar time, like once I step on the sphere in that fourth quarter drive with two minutes or no matter it’s, and all I want is a area aim, I simply actually know I acquired to cross the 50 and Harrison goes to go on the market and knock it via. It’s a particular factor to have a kicker like that. I’m tremendous appreciative of it, and he’s going to maintain making them.”
As for Butker, the pressure-packed second felt routine. Earlier than the ultimate kick, he already hit a 19-yard area aim together with each of his additional level makes an attempt. The veteran kicker says he treats each kick with significance, which helps him keep composed when the stakes are excessive.
“Throughout observe, I attempt to put a ton of stress on myself,” Butker mentioned. “Coach Reid and coach [Dave] Toub do a fantastic job with that. If I could make my set of eight kicks on Wednesdays and Thursdays for a Sunday sport, really feel like game-winners, and if I could make my 10 kicks going each methods in pregame warmups really feel like game-winners, then once I get to the game-winning second, nothing completely different ought to occur. I shouldn’t shock myself by hitting a nasty or kick. It needs to be the very same.”
After all, nothing can simulate the stress of hitting the clutch kick. Butker acknowledges the heightened focus that comes with a game-winner and says he simply tries to stay centered on executing one thing he’s performed on a constant foundation over the course of his eight-year profession.
“I feel if you find yourself driving down the sphere for a game-winning kick, my focus goes to be higher than some other kick that sport,” Butker famous. “I imply, it’s onerous to not be extra dialed in, so I might anticipate to have a greater kick for a game-winning kick being extra dialed in and locked in for that second.”
Shifting ahead, the Chiefs have some issues they should clear up however will gladly take the new 2-0 begin to the season, particularly after beating two of their largest AFC rivals. Mahomes acknowledges the room for enchancment and hopes to play a a lot cleaner sport as they put together for subsequent week’s primetime matchup in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons.
“These are two nice soccer groups we performed these final two weeks,” Mahomes mentioned. “Groups we’ve performed in AFC championship video games and to have the ability to come out with wins at residence, that’s essential. Clearly, we really feel like we are able to get so much higher, and so, we’re going to scrub up the errors. Particularly on the offense, it begins with me, and we can be a greater workforce ahead because the season goes on. It’ll be a fantastic problem subsequent weekend on Sunday Evening Soccer in Atlanta.”
