Final score: Bears beat Chiefs 19-14 as Chicago backups top Kansas City’s strong start

Within the three complete drives that the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ main starters took the sphere in Saturday’s preseason recreation in opposition to the Chicago Bears, they dominated. They scored one landing, whereas forcing the Bears’ offense into two punts. The 14-0 halftime lead didn’t maintain — however even within the 19-14 loss, the first-team Chiefs began the 2022 marketing campaign on a robust be aware.

After one drive, quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed with 60 passing yards and a landing on 6/7 passing; a 142 passer score. Third-string signal-caller Shane Buechele went 12/19 passing, with 99 yards, one rating and an interception. Vast receiver Justin Watson led the receiving corps with 45 yards and a rating. Defensive linemen Chris Jones and George Karlaftis highlighted their facet of the ball with a sack every.

The Bears began with the ball at their very own 34-yard line after a great kick return. The Chiefs made it a fast possession, nonetheless. Security Justin Reid flew in to make a deal with within the flat on first down, linebacker Willie Homosexual Jr. shot a niche to cease a run on second down, then defensive deal with Chris Jones completed it off with a dominant sack to power the punt.

Kansas Metropolis’s offense took over and began with an 11-yard completion to fullback Michael Burton from play-action. Just a few performs later, Burton transformed a 3rd down on a fullback dive. On second down, Mahomes discovered tight finish Travis Kelce for 19 yards to get simply outdoors of the crimson zone. An 11-yard completion to broad receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling received them nearer — after which tight finish Blake Bell capped the drive off with a landing on a display screen go.

The primary-team protection remained on the sphere to defend the 7-0 lead, shortly forcing the Bears into third-and-4. Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed had an opportunity to interrupt up a go down the sphere, however Bears’ receiver Darnell Mooney made the leaping catch to realize 26 yards and a primary down. The Chiefs compelled a punt shortly after that, highlighted by defensive deal with Tershawn Wharton batting down a go.

The beginning offensive line was the one a part of the first-team lineup nonetheless on the sphere as they took possession. Backup quarterback Chad Henne discovered broad receiver Justin Watson to earn one first down, however then couldn’t get previous the sticks once more. The Chiefs punted away.

With many of the starters off the sphere, the protection stored the ball rolling, forcing a third-and-9. Rookie cornerback Joshua Williams held tight protection deep down the sideline, however the ball one way or the other squeezed previous him to grew to become full. Quickly after, a third-down play by defensive deal with Taylor Stallworth compelled a punt.

Third-string quarterback Shane Buechele then entered the sport subsequent, however he couldn’t transfer the sticks. The backup offensive linemen weren’t a lot assist — both to him or operating again Ronald Jones.

Because the Bears took over, the Chiefs’ line of defense stood out. Defensive deal with Tershawn Wharton flew off the road for a quarterback hit on first down, then Khalen Saunders burst by way of for a four-yard loss on the following play. On the following third down, rookie defensive finish George Karlaftis completed the drive off with a sack.

The Chiefs’ subsequent drive ended with a fast punt. But it surely was highlighted by a troublesome catch over the center by rookie broad receiver Skyy Moore. changing a 3rd down whereas taking a giant hit.

Because the second quarter wound down, the Bears began their possession scorching with two massive performs — the latter being a 27-yard run that exploited a missed deal with try by rookie cornerback Jaylen Watson. Nevertheless, the Chiefs’ protection locked down and compelled a punt quickly after.

With three minutes remaining, Buechele began to orchestrate a two-minute drill. He leaned on broad receivers Justin Watson and Daurice Fountain to transform two third downs, then as soon as once more discovered Watson to cap off the drive with a 22-yard rating. The rating was 14-0 with lower than 30 seconds remaining within the half.

After halftime, the Chiefs began with the ball — entering into third-and-10 after a sideline catch by broad receiver Josh Gordon was overturned. Then on the conversion try, Buechele threw an interception.

With the Bears in Chiefs’ territory, the drive began with a deal with on the line of scrimmage by rookie linebacker Leo Chenal. Chicago transformed one third down, then one other — the latter leading to a 12-yard landing. Security Deon Bush was overwhelmed in protection by the operating again, making the rating 14-6 after a stuffed run on the two-point conversion try.

The Chiefs’ subsequent sequence began with a missed block in go safety, resulting in a 12-yard sack on Buechele. The drive couldn’t get going from there, capped by a punt two performs later.

The Bears’ offense was delivered to a fourth-and-2 proper off the bat — however transformed state of affairs with a 25-yard go down the sphere. It received them within the crimson zone, the place one other deep go was accomplished — this time for a landing, with security Devon Key in chase. That introduced the sport to 14-13, nonetheless within the Chiefs’ favor.

Quarterback Dustin Crum entered the sport for Kansas Metropolis as their fourth quarterback. Two performs into the Chiefs’ ensuing drive, operating again Derrick Gore fumbled, turning the ball over to the Bears.

Chicago took benefit of the turnover, kicking a discipline objective a number of performs later to take a 16-14 lead.

With time winding down within the third quarter, quarterback Dustin Crum transformed a third-and-9 along with his legs by avoiding a cluttered pocket and powering over the sticks — however the Chiefs couldn’t get anything. Gordon nearly made a sideline catch however couldn’t get each ft in-bounds, so the Chiefs punted away.

The Bears began their drive with a pleasant completion, however the subsequent play resulted in a sack by blitzing security Nasir Greer. That took the sport into the fourth quarter.

A sack between defensive linemen Taylor Stallworth and Malik Herring was adopted by a close to interception by cornerback Brandon Dandridge. These two performs led to a different punt.

The Chiefs adopted that with a fast three-and-out. The Bears adopted that up by trying to have a three-and-out of their very own — however they transformed the third-and-10 with a 15-yard completion. One other chunk play received them into discipline objective vary, the place they transformed the kick to increase their result in 19-14.

With six minutes left within the recreation, Crum was sacked on first down — and couldn’t get something going after that. The Chiefs shortly received the ball again, however didn’t get into Chicago territory to threaten to attain once more. A fourth-down sack ended their last alternative.

Accidents

Tight finish Blake Bell got here up limping with a hip harm after a play within the first quarter; later, the staff introduced he wouldn’t return.

Working again Derrick Gore exited the sport with a neck harm within the third quarter, shortly marked as questionable to return.

Particular groups

Rookie cornerback Trent McDuffie returned the primary punt of the day for 11 yards. Rookie broad receiver Skyy Moore was up for the second and fair-caught it, then returned one other for 12 yards. Vast receivers Corey Coleman and Omar Bayless every returned a punt for no achieve.

Rookie operating again Isiah Pacheco returned the opening kickoff of the second half 34 yards. Moore had a 27-yard return within the third quarter, whereas Corey Coleman had two returns. Rookie Jerrion Ealy took the final kick return of the sport for 18 yards.

Security (and now, apparently, backup kicker) Justin Reid transformed an extra-point try after the staff’s second landing. Beginning kicker Harrison Butker transformed his solely point-after try.

Punter Tommy Townsend had seven alternatives to punt — averaging 44 yards on every, with three touchdown contained in the 20-yard line.

Statistics