KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs coach Andy Reid praised Sunday’s overtime victory at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles as “a good team win.”
Kansas City’s 23-20 comeback marked the squad’s 11th consecutive win, including the playoffs, dating back to last season. The Chiefs now have erased double-figure deficits in four of those games.
But the latest victory, delivered on a franchise-record 58-yard field goal off the foot of Harrison Butker, was the first by less than seven points during that span.
“It’s not a video game out there,” Reid said. “They’re playing and we’re playing, too.”
Reid reiterated his absolute confidence in Butker, who had to kick the game-winner three times and actually hit two 58-yard field goals in the win.
“I had no doubt on this one, not at this point …,” Reid said of the decision to trot out Butker on fourth-and-1 in overtime. “I had full trust in him.”
Reid credited safety and reigning team MVP Tyrann Mathieu along with defensive tackle Chris Jones, who signed a four-year extension before the season, for helping keep the team’s spirits up during the first three quarters as the Chiefs fell behind 17-9.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes struggled through the first three quarters, but he drew Kansas City even with a 54-yard rope to Tyreek Hill early in the fourth quarter followed by a spectacular two-point conversion to Mecole Hardman Jr.
After the Chargers wrapped a 10-minute field goal drive, Mahomes efficiently marched the Chiefs down the field on a 12-play game-tying field goal drive in the final 2:27.
He then led a 13-play drive in overtime before Butker’s game-winner.
“You got to see more growth from Patrick Mahomes ...,” Reid said. “Things weren’t going well for him at the beginning, but he just beared down and kind of brought everyone along with him.”
Mahomes finished 27 of 47 for 302 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also led the Chiefs in rushing with six carries for 54 yards, including a crucial 21-yard run on third-and-20 late in regulation to get the team in field-goal range.
“We didn’t play as well as we wanted to obviously, but we played well enough to win the game,” Reid said.
Reid did not have an update on the Chiefs’ numerous injuries — DE Frank Clark (illness), CB Antonio Hamilton (groin), RB Darrel Williams (ankle) and WR Sammy Watkins (head) — from Sunday’s game.
But he did say Charvarius Ward, who missed the Chargers game with a broken left hand, could return to practice this week and defensive tackle Mike Pennel could be activated from his two-game suspension for Monday Night Football at Baltimore next week.
“There’s a chance he’s back up and ready to go,” Reid said of Pennel. “I’ll let (General Manager Brett) Veach do that part, but there’s a good chance he’s up.”
