On Sunday afternoon, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs collected a 27-20 win over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium, pushing their 2024 file to 7-0 and tying a franchise file with their thirteenth consecutive victory.
Followers have been particularly to see newly-acquired large receiver DeAndre Hopkins see some motion — and so they weren’t disenchanted. Head coach Andy Reid was happy.
“I assumed it was good,” he informed reporters after the sport. “He needed to be in there, which is a constructive — and I perceive. So he’ll get extra possibilities the following sport.”
Hopkins had a key catch within the sport’s opening drive. Focused thrice, he caught a pair of passes for 29 yards — and performed an vital function in serving to tight finish Travis Kelce accumulate 10 catches for 90 yards and a landing.
“I assumed he did an incredible job,” mentioned quarterback Patrick Mahomes. “[On] third down, he had the large catch early within the sport — after which he had a few different huge performs. I missed him on that one nook route early [in the game], however [he] nonetheless received open.
“Then as I appeared again on the pill [on the sideline], there have been a few occasions the place in man protection, he was simply actually working and successful. Even the landing to Trav, if you happen to look again on his aspect, he’s open for a landing there.
“I imply, clearly, I do know the kind of participant he’s — however once you see that on the sector, it exhibits that in the event that they’re going to play man protection in opposition to him, he’s going to get open. I’ve to present him the probabilities to go on the market and make performs.”
But it surely wasn’t simply the passing sport that was working. Whereas Kareem Hunt gathered simply 59 yards on 21 makes an attempt, it was apparent that Kansas Metropolis may depend on him to maintain the protection trustworthy. And, in fact, Mahomes scrambled in key moments, too. In a 19-play drive that stretched into the third quarter, the quarterback transformed two third downs together with his legs — certainly one of them a third-and-12.
“I feel guys simply did their job,” mentioned Mahomes. “I don’t suppose it was one [thing] or one other. I imply, we ran it generally; I ran it generally. We threw the ball after we wanted to throw the ball. That [Las Vegas] protection has a number of totally different coverages. Guys have been in a position to acknowledge the coverages and execute at a excessive degree. I assumed we performed a reasonably good soccer sport offensively.”
Then there was the Kansas Metropolis protection, which allowed a gap drive landing. However from then till fourth-quarter rubbish time, the unit allowed simply two Las Vegas discipline objectives. Then, when a deflected cross was intercepted within the third quarter — giving the Raiders the ball on the Kansas Metropolis 3-yard line — the Chiefs’ protection shut them down chilly. Las Vegas gave up the ball on downs.
Reid referred to as the collection “unbelievable.”
“Offensively, we put the protection in a foul place,” he mentioned. “However we held up as a protection. We got here out and put our foot down and did a pleasant job there. That was vital.”
Mahomes was amazed by the defensive cease.
“In a foul scenario, that entire complete unit stepped up when their quantity was referred to as to make a big-time cease,” he marveled. “That’s what it takes from nice soccer groups. It takes greatness from everyone; it will probably’t be one man. That’s what’s made us so nice for thus lengthy. All through my profession, it’s not all about me. It’s not all about Trav. It’s about this complete group. That’s what makes it so particular.”
And now, that group is 7-0.
