Chiefs slog their way past beat-up Rams for

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Andy Reid lamented more problems with the Kansas City Chiefs punt return unit. JuJu SmithSchuster regretted their many failures in the red zone. Patrick Mahomes bemoaned “the one dumb play I make every game.”

So much for celebrating a 26-10 victory Sunday over the beat-up Los Angeles Rams.

Sure, the Chiefs were pleased by Mahomes throwing for 320 yards and a touchdown, and the hard yardage Isiah Pacheco gained on the ground eventually netted him a score. And they were thrilled with the performance of their defense, which frustrated fill-in quarterback Bryce Perkins and shut down the Rams ground game.

The Chiefs also made plenty of mistakes, including an interception by Mahomes in the end zone in the fourth quarter — that dumb play he referenced — and red-zone woes that led to four field goals by Harrison Butker.

It didn’t matter against the Rams, who have lost five straight for the first time under Sean McVay.

It might matter against the Bengals next week. And down the stretch in the pursuit of the AFC’s