“That was a good wake-up call,” Coach Andy Reid pinpoints the game that ignited Chiefs’ journey to consecutive Super Bowl appearances

The Chiefs had a reality check following the Raiders loss on Christmas Day.

“That was a good wake-up call,” Coach Andy Reid pinpoints the game that ignited Chiefs’ journey to consecutive Super Bowl appearances

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid (Image via ESPN)

Last Sunday, Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs won their latest AFC title. But at one point in the season, it appeared that they would miss out on the playoffs after losing to AFC West rivals the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day. Reid claimed that the loss was a “wake-up call” for the Chiefs.

There were lots of ups and downs in the 2023 NFL season for the Chiefs, who led the league in dropped catches, costing them vital games.

Midway through the season, they went through a spell of four losses in six games. Reid’s team managed to bounce back, winning five since the Raiders defeat (including the playoffs).

That was a good wake-up call for us.
Reid said on KSHB 41.

The veteran head coach praised the Raiders then interim and current head coach, Antonio Pierce. According to him, Pierce injected the grit and confidence required to win games. They came out to play.

They came out with great emotion. Antonio [Pierce] had them ready to go. But that emotion was the thing that jumped out at you and that they played with. I think it gave our guys a nice little, for a better term, wake-up call, that we need to step things up here, that things aren't just going to fall in our lap.
Continuing further, Reid added

Pierce ran the game so well that his quarterback, Aidan O’Connell, did not even throw 10 passes. Running back Zamire White had 22 carries for 145 yards. But that’s not what dealt the pivotal blow to the Chiefs. Rather, it was the two forced pick-6s that turned the tie on its head.

Andy Reid claimed the Chiefs learned a lot from the Raiders’ loss

The Raiders were going through a down year themselves. Before the Arrowhead clash on Christmas Day, they had already lost the reverse fixture at home.

“That was a good wake-up call,” Coach Andy Reid pinpoints the game that ignited Chiefs' journey to consecutive Super Bowl appearances
Andy Reid (Image via ESPN)

And followed it up with the lowest-scoring game in NFL history, not recording a single point against the Minnesota Vikings.

It wasn’t the best of times for Pierce’s men. Yet they were able to spoil the mood for the Chiefs, who could have secured post-season football with the win.

Here's a team that went through some adversity, and they stepped up and were able to present themselves like they did. We were able to learn from it and move on. I felt all along, though, that we had the ability to do that. I just needed a little kick in the tail there.
Reid said.

Since the loss, the Chiefs have won four games with their starters while averaging 23.7 points. They also took down divisional rivals the Los Angeles Chargers 63-21 in Week 18 while resting key players.

When the playoffs began, football fans witnessed the return of the old Chiefs. They blew the Miami Dolphins away, outclassed the Buffalo Bills, and edged past the league’s best defense, the Baltimore Ravens, in their own backyard. Now onto the final hurdle: facing the San Francisco 49ers.

Coincidentally, the Super Bowl LVIII will be played at Raiders Allegiant Stadium. According to NBC Sports, the Chiefs will practice at the Raiders facility in Vegas before the game.

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