CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ten yards into the scramble, Patrick Mahomes could have easily slid for a first down or simply ducked outside the zone and moved on to the next play. .
Instead, the three-time Super Bowl MVP cut back inside and ran up another 23 yards as time expired as the Chiefs held on and beat the Carolina Panthers 30-27 on Sunday. and helped set up Spencer Schrader's 31-yard field goal. .
“At that point, the yards are more important than the out-of-bounds,” Mahomes said. “We had three timeouts, so we just tried to get through, but Justin Watson made a great block and we were able to get down the field and out of bounds.”
The game-winning shot was the 21st of Mahomes' career and the fifth time this season the Chiefs won a game decided in the final seconds. Eight of the Chiefs' wins have come by one point.
“You always want to have a certain amount of explosion and be a little calm in the fourth quarter, but I've always said, late in the season going into the playoffs, we've had moments like that before. Knowing that, that can be a good thing, and knowing how to attack play by play and not make it too big of a moment,” Mahomes said.
And he smiled and said: “But I say this more than anyone else: I want to win the game by the last play.”
Mahomes completed 27 of 37 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns in his first game at Bank of America Stadium, as the Chiefs (10-1) went 6 of 8 for points. , ran for 60 yards, including 33 yards on a last-minute play. property.
Noah Gray caught four passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns for the second straight week, and DeAndre Hopkins also found the end zone for the two-time Super Bowl champion. Kareem Hunt ran for 68 yards on 16 carries and caught three passes for 19 yards.
Bryce Young played well for Carolina (3-8), going 21-of-35 for 262 yards and a touchdown, leading the Panthers from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter and Tuba. Hubbard's 1-yard touchdown run tied it. Two-point conversion with 1:46 left.
Panthers manager Dave Canales, who benched Young for veteran Andy Dalton earlier this season, said last year's No. 1 overall pick will “absolutely” remain the team's starting quarterback next week. . This is a departure from Canales' recent pattern of waiting several days before naming a starting pitcher.
“Bryce is certainly making the most of his opportunity,” Canales said. “And he's making a statement to all of us. He showed us that he can play in key areas. He did a great job today in overtime.”
Young said: “For me, I just want to focus on what I can control. I just always have the same mindset and preparation and just want to get better throughout the week. I'm really grateful for the confidence I gained. Masu.”
Still, there is room for improvement.
The Panthers moved the ball well but struggled in the red zone, with Eddie Pineiro, the most accurate kicker in NFL history, making field goals of 30, 32, 29, and 33 yards.
The Chiefs quickly set the tone as Samaje Perine returned the first kickoff 56 yards and Mahomes took a 7-0 lead on Gray's 35-yard touchdown strike on the third play from scrimmage. Gray didn't have a TD catch in nine games before scoring two points against Buffalo last week. He gained 11 yards late in the second quarter and gained two more against the Panthers.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid praised Mahomes' composure, but said he was concerned after his team earned nine penalties for 90 yards.
