Ten yards into a scramble, Patrick Mahomes could have easily slid to get the first down or stepped out of bounds to move on to the next play.
Instead, the three-time Super Bowl MVP cut back inside and sprinted 23 more yards up the field, helping set up Spencer Schrader’s 31-yard field goal as time ran out. This gave the Chiefs a 30-27 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
“At that point, yards are more important than getting out of bounds,” Mahomes said. “With three timeouts, I just tried to cut through, and Justin Watson had a great block, allowing me to get down the field and out of bounds.”
That game-winning drive was Mahomes’ 21st of his career, and the Chiefs secured their fifth win of the season that came down to the final seconds. Eight of the Chiefs’ wins have been by one score.
“You always want to have some blowouts and be a little calmer in the fourth quarter, but I’ve always said it could be a good thing when you get to the playoffs later in the season knowing that you have been in those moments before, and knowing how to attack it play by play not making it too big of a moment,” Mahomes said.
Then he smiled and added, “But I would say this more than anybody, I would love to win a game not by the very last play.”
In his first game at Bank of America Stadium, Mahomes completed 27 of 37 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 60 yards, including 33 yards on that final scramble. The Chiefs (10-1) scored on six of their eight possessions.
Noah Gray caught four passes for 66 yards and scored two touchdowns for the second week in a row. DeAndre Hopkins also scored for the defending Super Bowl champions. Kareem Hunt ran for 68 yards on 16 carries and caught three passes for 19 yards.
Bryce Young played well for Carolina (3-8), finishing 21 of 35 for 262 yards and a touchdown. He helped the Panthers recover from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the game on Chuba Hubbard’s 1-yard touchdown run and a 2-point conversion with 1:46 left.
Panthers coach Dave Canales, who had benched Young earlier this season for veteran Andy Dalton, said last year’s No. 1 overall draft pick “absolutely” will stay as the team’s starting quarterback next week. This is a change from Canales’ usual approach of waiting a few days before naming a starter.
“Bryce is certainly making the most of his opportunities,” Canales said. “And he is making a statement to all of us. Showing us he can make plays in critical areas. He did a great job extending today.”
Young said, “For me, I just want to focus on what I can control. Regardless, I always have the same mindset and preparation, wanting to be better throughout the week. I am definitely grateful for confidence.”
Still, there is room for improvement.
The Panthers moved the ball well but struggled in the red zone, settling for field goals of 30, 32, 29, and 33 yards from Eddy Pineiro, the most accurate kicker in NFL history.
The Chiefs set the tone early as Samaje Perine returned the opening kickoff 56 yards, and Mahomes found Gray for a 35-yard touchdown on the third play, putting them up 7-0. Gray had gone nine games without a touchdown catch before grabbing two last week against Buffalo. His 11-yard score late in the second quarter gave him two more touchdowns against the Panthers.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid praised Mahomes’ composure but was concerned about his team’s nine penalties for 90 yards.
