:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44414402/usa-today-8260427.0.jpg)
The Kansas City Chiefs were oh so close to finally getting a touchdown reception from one of their wide receivers on Sunday. Early in the second quarter against the San Diego Chargers, Dwayne Bowe caught a pass and churned toward the end zone, poised to break the team's bizarre season-long drought. But just inches from the goal line, a defender jarred the ball loose.
It bounced into the end zone, where Travis Kelce, a tight end, recovered it for a score.
The Chiefs threw 18 touchdown passes this season. Not a single one was caught by a wide receiver.
Given that Kansas City operates a conservative passing game geared toward getting the ball to running backs and tight ends, it's not shocking that the wide receiver corps didn't post big numbers -- only two of the team's top six receivers were wideouts. But zero touchdowns?
That means that Bowe got paid $11.485 million this season to not visit the end zone. He did finish second on the team with 60 receptions and 754 yards, but he's getting paid the big bucks to score.
On Sunday he was close ... and yet so far.
