Matthew Wright Explains Approach for Dramatic Game-Winning Kick vs. Chargers
Matthew Wright Explains Approach for Dramatic Game-Winning Kick vs. Chargers
Matthew Wright stepped up big-time in the Kansas City Chiefs Week 14 win over the LA Chargers, and the veteran kicker is glad everything panned out.
Another week, another avenue the Kansas City Chiefs found to obtain a win. Sort of.
While the process was a bit different, the result was quite the same. After quarterback Patrick Mahomes helped lead a drive down the field late in the fourth quarter, the reigning Super Bowl champions nailed a game-winning field goal as time expired to take down the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. In this instance, it was Matthew Wright who managed to rip the opposition's heart out.
Much like the game itself, Wright's kick had a flair for the dramatic. The 31-yard boot wound up hitting the left upright and going in, giving Kansas City its ninth AFC West title in a row. Following one of the biggest makes of his career, the sixth-year man expressed his desire for a more solid strike but is quite glad that everything worked out.
"It's not good," Wright said of his initial thoughts on the kick. "I wanted it to go right down the middle, obviously, but I'm just happy it went in."
Wright says his pre-kick routine didn't change as the Chiefs advanced on their final offensive possession. Repeatedly telling himself to "relax" was one of the keys that smoothed things over leading up to the field goal try.
"Just try to do the same routine I do every time," Wright said of his thought process. "Say the same phrases in my head and just try to focus on being as routine-based as possible."
Wright, who is in his second stint with Kansas City after a cup of coffee with the club in 2022, made history on Sunday. He's the third Chiefs kicker to make a game-winning field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter this season – no other team has ever had more than one. With Harrison Butker on the injured reserve list and Spencer Shrader joining him after just two games, Wright was signed to the active roster from the practice squad. So far, so good for him, as he's made eight of his nine boots and a pair of extra points in two weeks.
Having bounced around to various teams (including the San Francisco 49ers this season), Wright is grateful for his teammates being able to adjust on the fly.
"Yeah, it's a testament to James (Winchester) and Matt (Araiza) because a new kicker is hard for both of them," Wright said. "And then the line does a great job. Just trying to stay focused and make sure that when I'm on my own, I treat reps like game reps and then just be ready to do what I do."
One of the overarching themes of this Chiefs season has been opportunity. With so many players getting injured, a lot was and still is asked of established depth pieces and newcomers alike. Wright finds himself somewhere in the middle as someone who has some experience with special teams coordinator Dave Toub's operation but is still piecing other bits together. Butker will eventually return from his meniscus injury and stabilize the position but in the meantime, his replacements are rising to the occasion.
With a signature clutch moment now under his belt, Wright is ready to keep building on an excellent 4-for-4 performance in a massive win.
"It's huge," Wright said. "Being able to make kicks in the NFL is awesome. Whenever I get to do that," I'm happy."
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers: Week 14 Preview, Score Predictions
How will the Kansas City Chiefs fare when they host the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 14? Let's predict KC's 12th outing of the 2024 season.
As the AFC playoff picture slowly comes into focus, Sunday night's game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers is bound to have an impact on that postseason race.
With a win, Andy Reid's Kansas City squad can lock up the AFC West for yet another season. A Week 14 victory would also keep teams like the Buffalo Bills at bay in the fight for the conference's one-seed. On the other side, Jim Harbaugh has Los Angeles out to an 8-4 start to the year. A win is desperately needed to maintain any chance of winning the division, and it wouldn't hurt the Chargers' playoff odds either as a current wild-card team.
How will the game unfold? The Kansas City Chiefs On SI crew makes its predictions for Week 14 of the 2024-25 campaign.
Joshua Brisco: Assuming that D.J. Humphries gets the start at left tackle, I'm holding out hope that the Chiefs' offense will look substantially more consistent and more explosive with even average protection for Patrick Mahomes. The Chargers will be a tough test for whoever starts on the left side and for banged-up right tackle Jawaan Taylor, but it should also serve as a good indicator of where KC's O-line currently stands. On defense, I hope Steve Spagnuolo lets Trent McDuffie follow Ladd McConkey for the majority of the game, while Joshua Williams should have a chance to show that he belongs in the starting lineup. The only thing that would truly surprise me would be a blowout for either team.
Prediction: Chiefs 20, Chargers 19
Jordan Foote: In some ways, the Chargers operate similarly to the Chiefs. They don't have the league's most explosive passing game and weapons-wise, there isn't a ton at Justin Herbert's disposal. Los Angeles thrives on running the rock, protecting the football and hoping its defense can come up with stops. The difference here is Jesse Minter's defense is playing at a higher level than Steve Spagnuolo's. Despite that, Kansas City might be getting a boost at left tackle and I'm not quite as worried about the cornerback spot if Joshua Williams is in the fold instead of Jaylen Watson. Expect a close game here, as Kansas City seems to have every week, but the home team will come away with a clutch victory over their AFC West rivals.
Prediction: Chiefs 24, Chargers 20
Zack Eisen: All eyes will be on the newly acquired D.J. Humphries. Sunday night will be his first live action since tearing his ACL last December. If he can give the Chiefs league-average left tackle play, it will be a massive upgrade over Wanya Morris. Kansas City’s offense is poised to break out with the improvement in the passing game and the return of Isiah Pacheco in the running game. Humphries could be the key to unlocking it. The Chiefs haven’t played a great game against a divisional opponent all season. However, with a chance to clinch the AFC West, they put together a strong performance and come away with a decisive win here.
Prediction: Chiefs 31, Chargers 20
Mark Van Sickle: It’s going to be a close game. There’s no reason to think otherwise no matter who the opponent is at this point, but especially against the Chargers. They're a divisional rival and the second-best team in the AFC West, so this game could very well come down to the final possession. Every game has had a unique ending of late. Whether it be a blocked field goal, walk-off kick or a botched snap and fumble recovery, the Chiefs continue to keep us on our toes. It feels like this game will have some new unique ending. I don’t think Cameron Dicker, the Chargers' kicker, would miss an extra point, and it feels like Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh would go for two on a late touchdown. Chiefs will survive once again, this time on a failed two-point conversion by the Chargers in the final minute of the game.
.jfif)
No comments: