The Kansas City Chiefs secured a 30-27 walk-off win over the Carolina Panthers, with rookie Kicker Spencer Shrader hitting the game-winning field goal. With this win the Chiefs moved to 10-1 on the season, and it became another week defined by the championship resiliency.
Postgame, Head Coach Andy Reid and players Patrick Mahomes, Noah Gray, and Spencer Shrader reflected on key moments that sealed the win, including Mahomes’ late-game scramble and Shrader’s game-winning kick, minimizing penalties and improving red-zone efficiency along with other topics.
Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Firepower Leads the Way
Kansas City’s offense started strong in this game, a notable improvement from the first half of the season. Andy Reid praised his players’ preparation leading up to this game, saying, “I think offensively the guys started fast, and they made that a huge emphasis this week.” However, he also stressed the importance of cleaning up their penalties which stalled multiple drives. “We can’t take plays from ourselves; it’s too much.”
Mahomes had himself a day on offense after throwing three touchdown passes and had the late-game 32-yard scramble late in the fourth quarter. Spoke further about the play and what he was seeing Mahomes said, “We expected man coverage, but they got into a match zone. Yards were more important than getting out of bounds at that point.” He credited his ability to adapt in the moment, stating, “When it comes down to it, you gotta make the play.”
Tight End Noah Gray, led the Chiefs in receiving yards (66) and had two touchdowns on the day, bringing his total to four in the last two games. Credited his recent success to everyone but himself, saying, “It’s all credit to God, the coaches, and my teammates. I’m just fortunate to be around a lot of great guys that love football.”
Patrick Mahomes’ Leadership Comes Through In Crutch Time
This game came down to the final seconds, and Mahomes did what he’s done throughout his career and that’s lead a game-winning drive. Mahomes helped to orchestrate the final drive that set up Shrader for the field goal. After the Panthers tied the game with the two-point conversion, Mahomes kept the offense composted and Gray described the team’s mindset in that moment. “We just had to go down and score. Fortunately, we got into field-goal range, and shoutout to Spencer for a phenomenal job.”
Mahomes also shared postgame that he had complete confidence in the rookie, even with the game on the line. “I had a ton of confidence. Since he’s been here, he’s been working hard, and we got him into his sweet spot.” Reid echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the pressure Shrader faced replacing a future Hall of Famer like Harrison Butker. “Spencer closing it out, that’s a whole lot of pressure for a new guy, and he did a great job.”
The drive was a reminder of Mahomes’ greatness, and his ability to do whatever it takes to help his team come away with a win.
Shrader Steps Up In the Clutch
For rookie Kicker Spencer Shrader, the game-winning field goal was a moment of gratitude and validation. “The biggest emotion at that moment was gratitude,” Shrader said. “I was just happy to perform for the team. Joining an organization like the Chiefs, there’s a championship culture and a standard to uphold.”
Shrader spoke in-depth on his mindset during the Chiefs’ final drive of the game. Acknowledging that he knew he would have an opportunity to gout on that field and help his team win the game. “I just tried to stay calm and understand it was going to come at some point. When it did, I was ready.” His kick affirmed to himself what he already knew, but showed to everyone who was watching, that the Chiefs have their guy for how long it may be someone that the team can depend on when needed.
Reid made sure to give the rookie some love in his presser, mentioning the difficulty of stepping into such a role. Then the rookie went out there and did exactly what he was supposed to, and a performance like this not only secured the Chief’s 10th win of the season but also helped to strengthen the trust between him and his teammates moving forward.
Final Thoughts
This win over the Carolina Panthers, for the Chiefs, showcased that they are moving in the right direction offensively, but they still have some areas that need to be cleaned up. Mahomes’ leadership continues to shine, no matter the moment, and the Chiefs have found their next kicker in Shrader while Butker is out with injury. Gray continues his hot streak and remains a steady presence for Mahomes and the Chiefs offense and moving forward.
Now the Chiefs turn their focus to the Raiders, on a short week as they look to continue focusing on their offensive momentum and addressing areas for improvement. With Mahomes and the rest of the offense finally finding its rhythm, the Chiefs are well-positioned to keep their winning ways alive as they move into the final weeks of the regular season.
