Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs got back to their winning ways after a rare loss against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills last Sunday. It took a game-winning drive from Patrick Mahomes to get past Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers, who were on a two-game winning streak of their own, but the Kansas City Chiefs left the ‘Queen City’, North Carolina with a victory on Sunday afternoon. That is what the great teams do, find a way to win even when they do not play their best game.
“You always want to have some blowouts and be a little calmer in the fourth quarter, but I’ve always said it could be a good thing when you get to the playoffs later in the season knowing that you have been in those moments before, and knowing how to attack it play by play not making it too big of a moment,” Mahomes said.
Then he smiled and said: “But I would say this more than anybody, I would love to win a game not by the very last play.”
The Chiefs did what they have done so many times before, in the final two minutes of the fourth, to pick up a 30-27 win at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Sunday. Place kicker Spencer Shrader, who is replacing the injured Harrison Butker (knee) kicked a clutch 31-yard field goal as time expired to give them the narrow victory. That lifted the Chiefs to 10-1 on the season, and brought them back after they dropped their first game of the year last week in Buffalo.
“At that point, yards are more important than getting out of bounds,” Mahomes said. “With three timeouts, I just tried to just cut through and Justin Watson had a great block and was able to get down the field and get out of bounds.”
Even though the Panther took the loss and there are no moral victories in professional sports, especially football, there were a few positives in the performance and was easily the best of the season, if not his career, for Young. He was benched earlier this season after leading the team to an 0-2 start, but he regained the starting job after veteran backup Andy Dalton injured his thumb in a car accident in October. Young went 21-of-35 for 262 yards and a score in the loss, and kept them within striking distance against one of the best teams in the league.
It is just the second time this season Young has thrown for over 200 yards in a single game, and it marked the second-highest output he has had in his short tenure. Young’s career-high came last December when he put up 312 yards in a loss to Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers.
The Chiefs, who were in control for nearly the entire game, looked like they were going to sail to the win late in the fourth quarter. But a questionable pass interference call on safety Chamarri Conner, who ran into tight end Adam Thielen in the end zone, set the Panthers up perfectly at the goal line.
From there, running back Chuba Hubbard ran in an easy 1-yard touchdown to bring the Panthers back within two.
The Panthers got two cracks at the two-point conversion after there was a second pass interference call on the first attempt. Hubbard punched that one in, which tied the game up and erased an 11-point deficit.
However, like he has plenty of times before, Mahomes put on his Superman cape and quickly put the Chiefs in scoring position. After a pair of quick screen passes, he used his wheels to create a massive 33-yard run to suddenly get Kansas City into field goal range. That set up Shrader’s final field goal and won the game for the Chiefs.
“Bryce is certainly making the most of his opportunities,” coach Dave Canales said. “And he is making a statement to all of us. Showing us he can make plays in critical areas. He did a great job extending today.”
Said Young: “For me, I just want to focus on what I can control. Regardless, I always have the same mindset and preparation, wanting to be better throughout the week. I am definitely grateful for confidence.”
The Panthers offense struggled to find cohesiveness or rhythm in the first 30 minutes of play, and they went into the locker room at the half with just nine points off three field goals from placekicker Eddy Pineiro. The Chiefs had an 11-point lead at halftime, 20-9, after Mahomes connected with backup tight end Noah Gray for a pair of touchdowns, first a 35-yard toss on their opening drive of the game and then an 11-yard reception late in the second quarter.
But Young and the Panthers fought back, getting two critical touchdown drives in the second half, including one right away in the third quarter. That series, a methodical 15-play, 70-yard adventure, ended with a 1-yard touchdown pass to David Moore.
Mahomes completed an efficient 27-of-37 for 269 yards with three touchdowns in the win for the Chiefs. He also rushed for 60 yards on five carries, just shy of halfback Kareem Hunt’s 68 rushing yards. Gray finished with 66 yards and two touchdowns on just four receptions.
While Young did not come out on top in the end for the Panthers, Sunday’s performance was still incredibly impressive for the former Alabama standout and Heisman Trophy winner. After losing his job nine weeks ago, the Panthers now have a reason to believe and stick with Young to once again see if the 2023 No. 1 overall pick is part of their future plans.
The Chiefs host the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday.
The Panthers host Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Sunday.
