The Chiefs didn’t go anywhere. Patrick Mahomes definitely didn’t slip.
The Chiefs are 3-3 to start the season, it’s not ideal but it’s not the end of a dynasty either. Kansas City cooled down the NFL’s hottest team, the Detroit Lions, with a 30-17 victory Sunday night. The key was Mahomes, who is playing some of the best ball of his great career.
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Mahomes had three touchdown passes and one rushing pass, and was in control the entire game.
There has been a lot of discussion about the Chiefs’ relatively slow start and whether that meant they were in trouble. It seemed like there wasn’t much cause for concern Sunday night.
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The Chiefs knew the first six games of the season would be a challenge. The schedule was difficult. They were without Rashee Rice, the Chiefs’ best receiver. He returns next week after serving a six-game suspension.
The Chiefs aren’t used to being just .500 at this point in the season, but the win against the Lions showed once again that they are capable of beating anyone, especially with Mahomes playing like him. Kansas City will likely finish the season as a Super Bowl contender, as usual.
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There shouldn’t be much doubt about that.
The Chiefs take the lead at halftime
After a Sunday marked by some tough NFL performances, Sunday night brought two entertaining teams.
The Lions appeared to have started the night with a trick play for a touchdown, on a touchdown pass from running back David Montgomery to quarterback Jared Goff, but officials ruled Goff had moved illegally and the touchdown was taken off the board. The Lions settled for a basket.
Mahomes had two touchdowns in the first half, one on a pass to Xavier Worthy and another on the ground. The Lions got a nice score on a 22-yard TD pass from Goff to Jameson Williams. Both offenses executed at a high level. Each defense got a big stop on fourth down before halftime. One of the few miscues was Harrison Butker missing an extra point for the Chiefs, and his continued struggles could have been a factor in Andy Reid’s decision to go for fourth down from the Detroit 19-yard line later in the half. This fourth attempt ended with an incomplete pass.
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The Chiefs led 13-10 at halftime, and it could have been a bigger lead. But the Chiefs immediately increased their lead in the second half.
The Chiefs have a strong 2nd half
The Chiefs went on a quick touchdown drive to start the second half, with Mahomes throwing a shovel pass to Hollywood Brown, who scored a 9-yard touchdown and a 20-10 Chiefs lead. The score didn’t change until early in the fourth quarter, when Lions tight end Sam LaPorta made a great one-handed catch in the back of the end zone to cut Kansas City’s lead to three points.
That’s when Mahomes regained his momentum. He led a nine-play, 54-yard drive and hit Brown for another touchdown. When the Chiefs forced a three-and-out on the Lions’ next possession, victory was all but assured.
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Kansas City’s defense did a great job against the Lions’ explosive offense, especially in the second half. The Chiefs offense had its issues, but it ran the ball well, Mahomes was efficient and Kansas City racked up 26 first downs and over 350 yards.
A few losses in close games made it look like the Chiefs might be fading. A defeat against the Lions would have put them in an unfortunate situation. But on Sunday night, the way the Chiefs dominated one of the NFL’s best teams looked pretty familiar.
