This article is part of our NFL Observations series.
For a game with a total of 62, there sure were a lot of points left on the table. I'm as happy as anyone coaches don't reflexively punt or attempt field goals on 4th-down anymore, but the Chargers took it too far, given their inability to convert on short throws. I had the Chiefs minus three, so I won't complain too much, but (and I haven't looked yet) I hope I'm not facing Patrick Mahomes or Travis Kelce in any matchups. (Most people who drafted them mercifully aren't in the playoffs.)
- Patrick Mahomes wasn't sharp for much of the game, throwing one pass on fourth down into the turf, but he hit Travis Kelce for big plays down the stretch and in overtime to put up a massive line.
- Kelce (13-10-191-2) briefly yielded the TE1 title to Mark Andrews, but after this massive line, he's likely taken it back. It's funny because he was quiet for most of the game.
- Tyreek Hill (13-12-148-1) had a monster game, and while he hasn't been Cooper Kupp, he's still got 102-1,178-9) through 14 games, numbers you'd have snap-called had you taken him in the first round.
- Justin Herbert had a solid stat line, but it could have been so much bigger had the Chargers not stalled out in the red zone on fourth down a few times.
- Austin Ekeler (12-59-1, 4-4-23-0) did enough, despite playing through an ankle injury.
- Keenan Allen (10-6-78-1) got his, but Mike Williams (9-3-49-0) had his chances, but couldn't cash too many of them in.
- Brandon Staley is playing blackjack by the book, and I admire the resolve to stick to his numbers, irrespective of popular opinion. But NFL teams aren't playing cards, and too much rigidity can be a liability too.
