Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes’ struggle is a success for the team

The Kansas City Chiefs are convincing with their defence in their narrow victory against the Green Bay Packers. Superstar Patrick Mahomes is still not running smoothly, but that makes them dangerous, because there is still a lot to come.

Kansas City – It’s a funny thing when the coach and the star quarterback show up at the post-game press conference, but it’s a defensive player who gets the longest talk.

While Patrick Mahomes left the podium after six minutes following the 13-7 win over the Green Bay Packers and Andy Reid after just under ten, Frank Clark answered journalists’ questions for almost 15 minutes.

“The defence won us the game,” was then Head Coach Reid’s summary. “We defended the Packers’ running game really well. Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo found just the right actions.”

And Mahomes was also aware. “It was a battle the whole game,” said the star quarterback, who is not yet in the kind of shape Chiefs fans have seen him in years past.

The 2018 MVP’s relief was evident from his reaction after the decisive converted third try near the end of the game after the Chiefs had run out the clock with the Victory formation.

Mahomes exuberantly cheered, showed his fist, let his emotions run wild. “At that moment I just let it all out, the tension just fell away. “

Mahomes with 10 passes for just 40 yards

The difficulty the passer had was also shown by a statistic during the game. He completed 10 of 12 passes – actually a very good value – but only gained 40 yards.

“You can hardly imagine that,” former San Francisco 49ers linebacker and ran expert Mark Nzeocha analysed Mahomes’ performance.

“With Mahomes, however, not everything seems round yet,” Nzeocha said. “A lot of balls overthrown, a lot of underthrown. I don’t know what’s going on there, but it seems shaky.”

Still, it was enough for Kansas City – which originally started the season as the heavy favourite – to win two in a row for the first time this season. An unusual first for the team that has been so used to success in recent years and now stands at a record of 5-4.

Frank Clark, however, had an explanation for this: “I have the impression that the clubs are now building their team in such a way as to stop our offence. We’re the hunted and every team is going after us. “

Love spied on video study

And so Clark had to make the crucial plays with his defence. On the one hand, by putting extreme pressure on Jordan Love, who was standing in for Aaron Rodgers, who was infected with Corona, and on the other hand – as Reid mentioned – by allowing little via the running game with Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon.

In the end, one touchdown was allowed and one interception. L’Jarius Sneed intercepted a pass intended for Devante Adams.

“I knew exactly what was coming at that moment,” cornerback Sneed revealed. “Love made exactly the sign that we had seen Rodgers make in the video analysis.”

And then he summed up the night’s action perfectly. “It was just one thing meshing with another. Not always, but when we needed it. Whether it was offense, defense or special teams. “

Big credit to the special teams

Because the group around Harrison Butker and punter Tommy Townsend also received a lot of praise on the evening.

And the fact that Townsend was the punter who faced the press also showed the appreciation – as well as the words of Andy Reid. “Tommy played his best game as a pro,” said the head coach.

The punter was happy to accept the praise. “I’m certainly not going to disagree with the coach on that,” he said with a grin, but also passed on the praise.

“Maybe my punts were very good, but Harrison Butker sank a tremendously difficult 55-yard field goal today. That was anything but easy in the conditions.”

Taking praise and immediately passing it on – it was the Chiefs’ motto on the night.

At the same time, Clark also sent a fighting message to the competition.

“We’re getting better and better together on the field. And it’s getting better and better. Because in training and in the dressing room, our camaraderie is at the hot level,” he said and disappeared after just under 15 minutes of limelight – to enjoy the victory together with his boys.

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3 years ago
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