The most anticipated games of Andy Reid’s tenure with the Kansas City Chiefs
By Matt Conner
2018: Week 1 @ L.A. Chargers
Patrick Mahomes had technically already made his first career start, a meaningless Week 17 appearance at the tail end of the 2017 regular season. It was nice, to be sure, that Mahomes had won that game working with offensive back-ups playing largely against the Denver Broncos starting defenders. The fact that it was a road win was even more impressive.
But Mahomes still wasn’t the man at that point. He would sit behind Alex Smith in the playoffs, and even in that win, he threw zero touchdowns and one interception. He looked the part in short order, but it’s another thing to be told that you’re now the face of the franchise.
Fast forward eight or so months and that’s exactly how Mahomes suited up against the L.A. Chargers in Week 1. A pre-Super Bowl trade of Smith to the Washington Redskins allowed for a drama-free offseason. There were no lingering questions about a QB controversy. No more concerns about timelines or locker room chemistry or leadership styles. Mahomes was christened the starter and that was that.
Given a full offseason to prepare and with the addition of Sammy Watkins to the offense, the Chiefs looked like they could be seriously dangerous on paper. But the Chargers, the promising challenger in the division, stood in the way that first week. The anticipation was great, but Tyreek Hill made sure that the Chiefs were in charge the entire time by returning a punt 91 yards for a touchdown less than two minutes into the game.
Mahomes finished with four touchdown passes on only 15 completions. Andy Reid looked like an evil genius as a play caller and the Chiefs made it clear that expectations were now about that Lombardi award.