The Kansas City Chiefs opened the preseason with nearly all their veterans sitting it out, and results were expected as the Chiefs were able to get just four lonely field goals in a 20-12 loss.
It was a typical preseason opener in many ways, as it featured plenty of penalties and listless performances from players on both squads. The Chiefs did mostly get what they were looking for from their backup quarterbacks, though, as Justin Fields was solid and Garrett Nussmeier had some promising moments with the backup.
The Rams got on the board first as they blitzed the Chiefs defense and marched down the field on a 13-play, 78 yard drive that ended in a short field goal when Kansas City stiffened in the red zone. The Chiefs had trouble setting the edge initially, as QB Stetson Bennett authored several big plays to go with some impressive runs from Jaquez Hunter.
The two teams swapped field goals in the second quarter as the game turned into a festival of flags. Fields was on the bench in the second quarter when Nussmeier led both of the Chiefs’ field goal drives, and kicker Harrison Butker got a nice workout in this one as the half ended in a 6-6 tie.
The Chiefs took the lead in the third as Nussmeier led yet another short drive for a field goal, but the Rams finally scored the first touchdown of the game on a nine-yard toss from Ty Simpson to Dean Connors to make it 13-9.. LA pulled away late as Simpson led another drive and finished it with his second TD pass to Connors.
QB Chris Oladokun finished up the scoring with another late field goal drive in a game that was distinctly missing both big plays and the excitement that comes with them.
The Chiefs did stiffen after their shaky start, and several Chiefs rookies played well. Nussmeier showed some of the potential he displayed early in his college career at LSU, although Field played well enough that his spot on the depth chart likely won’t be in jeopardy.
Receiver Cyrus Allen continued to impress as he kept his early training camp momentum going, and rookie running back Emmett Johnson had some good moments as a runner and receiver. The Chiefs play their second preseason game next Friday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and until then we’ll go back on Mahomes’ watch to see if he appears in that one.