KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It was a slow start for the Super Bowl champions, but Kansas City snuck away with a 23-20 overtime win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Chiefs Kingdom learned two things from the match up, never count Patrick Mahomes out and never doubt a kick made by Harrison Butker.
“Butker, I mean what can you say?" Reid praised the kicker after the win. "He kicked four field goals and two of them counted, but that’s a tough thing to do, but he’s a mentally tough kid. I have full trust in him.”
The Chiefs rallied late after trailing the entire game.
The Chiefs and Chargers headed into overtime tied at 20 and the Chargers failed on their drive.
Mahomes led the Chiefs down the field, but not into the end zone.
With the Super Bowl champs in field goal range, they decided to kick for the victory.
A false start penalty on Kansas City called back the potential game-winning kick from 53 yards.
Harrison Butker said his offseason work is what prepared him to have success tonight.
“For me take it to the next level I have to have some longer kicks," Butker said. "In 2018 my longest was 54 yards, which was okay, you know, kinda middle of the pack, and last year, you know, making a 56-yarder was big.”
Butker would go on to do that and more.
The false start penalty would now make the kick 58 yards.
A long kick, but no one seemed to doubt Butker, especially his QB.
“As far as the field goal, I have 100% confidence in Butker every time he is on the field," Mahomes said, "I mean it’s special knowing obviously in overtime you want to score a touchdown, but knowing that at the same time if I can just get it around the 40, he’s gonna make it.”
Mahomes' confidence was spot on.
The second attempt from 58 yards out was good, but the Chargers called a time out to ice Butker.
He was forced to prepare to nail it for the third time in a row.
“A day like today when you’re indoors, there was no wind and I was able to hit from 67 before the game and 70 one time," Butker said. "Coach Toub told Coach Reid if we get to the 40 yard line we will be good, a 58-yarder and I can just swing easy, wouldn’t need to change anything.”
Butker made the long-distance field goal a third straight time and kicked the Chiefs into an overtime victory.
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