KC Chiefs vs. Chargers: Winners and losers from Week 3
By Matt Conner
Winner and Loser: Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Look, it would have been nice to see Clyde Edwards-Helaire come in and have a breakout game on Sunday in some epic early career statement. But even if that did or did not happen, the one thing that CEH could not do in this game was to do the same thing he did last week to seal the loss for the Chiefs against the Baltimore Ravens: fumble the ball.
That’s what makes today’s performance both a winner and a loser. There was no doubt that Edwards-Helaire put together some very nice runs on the day, and he finished with exactly 100 yards rushing on only 17 carries. It’s also not his fault that a poorly executed screen blew up in his face in the first half for negative yardage. (Kudos to Chargers linebacker Drue Tranquill there.)
However, a turnover interrupts all momentum immediately. It’s a gift to the other team. It’s the single most important aspect of what helps a team win (or lose) a game.
For Edwards-Helaire going forward, the mental aspect of consecutive turnovers in such a young career is going to be hard to top. Some fans are already done with CEH before he’s really gotten going for the Chiefs so early in his second year. The Chiefs are going to need to make sure they have some sports psychologists on hand to help Edwards-Helaire silence the voices—both external and internal—to keep moving developing for the Chiefs.
Hopefully he can trust his productivity and use this as a springboard going forward.