LAS VEGAS — The frustration was visible in everyone watching on Christmas Day.
When tight end Travis Kelce threw his helmet down the sideline, it was clear the Chiefs were in trouble.
In that game, the Raiders defeated the Chiefs 20-14.
It was a very un-Chiefs-like loss.
The Raiders scored two touchdowns off Chiefs turnovers, including a Patrick Mahomes interception.
Kansas City’s record fell to 9-6, and the mighty Chiefs looked like they weren’t ready to make the playoffs this year.
Think again.
Six weeks later, the Chiefs are preparing to face the 49ers in Super Bowl III on Sunday.
Since that loss on Christmas Day, they have won five straight games, including three playoff games.
“We responded after that loss. We can look back on that as a moment for us,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “After that, the team came together and overcame the adversity.”
The Chiefs’ defense has been strong all season. But since that loss to the Raiders, the offense has improved.
Chiefs players were careful not to get into specifics, but did offer some changes.
Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling said he has strengthened his receiver rotation.
The Chiefs have always kept players in games rather than replacing them, even if the play calls weren’t unique to that player.
“We’re not doing anything substantively different,” Valdes-Scantling said. “We’re still making a lot of the same plays that we’ve been making all year. It’s personnel coming and going. We have a lot of receivers that can play. If you have seven guys, everyone wants to play. You would think so.
“We were just trying to find a way to get players on the field, keep them on the field, and not have to go out to play or go out to play. That helped us. He gave it to me.”
The Chiefs have also improved their individual performance.
Running back Isaiah Pacheco has gained 130, 89, 97 and 68 yards in the four games he has played since then.
He scored a touchdown in each of Kansas City’s three playoff wins.
Rookie receiver Lachie Rice emerged during this game.
In Week 17 against the Bengals, he had five catches for 127 yards.
In the playoff win over the Dolphins, he had eight catches for 130 yards and one touchdown.
The Chiefs stopped dropping passes, which had plagued them throughout most of the season.
“I think we all had to look at ourselves in the mirror. I think the whole team did that,” Mahomes said. “We carried that momentum into the playoffs. Sometimes you have to grow your tail to be better on the other side. So I’m grateful to the Raiders for beating us like that, because That’s what got us into this game.”
After what appeared to be a down year, Mahomes hit his stride in the playoffs. He has played soccer with almost no mistakes.
He had no interceptions or fumbles on 112 dropbacks, and only two sacks for 11 yards.
“In that, I think [Raiders] “This game showed us how dominant our defense is,” Mahomes said. “The offense, the turnovers, the 14 points really hurt the game. Just knowing when to be aggressive and when to act smart. We know that punting isn’t necessarily a bad thing. On the field. can be reversed.
“It’s like we looked in the mirror and saw. We’ve been performing at a higher level ever since.”
The Chiefs have been practicing at the Raiders’ training center this week.
They recalled the game that changed their season.
“I think it gave our players a little bit of a good — [lack of] A better word would be a wake-up call that we need to step things up here,” Reed said. So, we’re taking the best of everyone, and the team here has been able to overcome some adversity and step up and present themselves as they have in the past.
“We were able to learn from it and move forward. But I always felt like I had the ability to do it. But like I said, I needed a little push. is.”
