Kansas City rolled into the Pacific Northwest for a preseason clash, but the vibes didn’t exactly scream “Super Bowl champs.” Andy Reid played it safe, resting Patrick Mahomes, Chris Jones, and several other stars. That decision, though, left the Chiefs exposed as Seattle put on a show in the first half at Lumen Field, handing the City of Fountains a reality check before the season even begins.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks piled up stats like they were mid-season ready. They racked up 309 yards to Kansas City’s 104, cruising to a 16-point halftime lead. Even Mahomes, watching from the sideline, admitted the team’s spark was missing. “We just needed to pick our energy up in general,” Mahomes said during an in-game interview. “We’re not playing the football that we wanted to play coming out here. Obviously, there’s weather and stuff like that, but we’ve got to play at a higher energy, and I think the coaches emphasized that at halftime.” For Chiefdom, it was clear — energy wasn’t optional, it was necessary.
Then came the one flash of brilliance. Kansas City opened the second half with a field goal, but the night stayed ugly until Skyy Moore flipped the script with an 88-yard punt return touchdown. His speed and vision finally lit up the sideline in a dreary 33-16 loss. Still, the return couldn’t erase his earlier miscues — a pair of drops and a muffled kickoff that ended in a touchback. For a second-round pick, this outing felt like a rollercoaster.
Afterward, Reid didn’t hold back when assessing Moore’s night. “He had a couple of drops, that’s not like him. He’s a lot better than that,” Andy Reid said. “So he had the three kind of bobbles and drops in special teams and with throws, and he came back with a big play. So, I’m proud of him for that. It wasn’t his best night up to that point.” In other words, Reid praised the highlight but made sure to underline the struggles.
NFL, American Football Herren, USA Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs Dec 21, 2024 Kansas City, Missouri, USA Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid watches play against the Houston Texans during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium Missouri USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xDennyxMedleyx 20241221_dam_sm8_282
Still, teammates weren’t about to let Moore sink. As beat reporter Jesse Newell shared, Rashee Rice and Isiah Pacheco stepped in before his game-changing return. “You take this back to the house, and nobody will remember none of that,” they told him. Moore delivered, sprinting 88 yards for six. But as the Silver and Red faithful look ahead, the early warning signs are clear — Reid’s got work to do before the Chiefs march back into Arrowhead Stadium for the games that actually count.
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