KC Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes leads two minute drive in win vs Lions

The KC Chiefs didn’t have a very Chief-like day in Detroit, as Patrick Mahomes was held without a touchdown pass for the first time this season. Fumbles were the problem though and almost cost KC the game.

Well, that was a nerve-wracking game for the Kansas City Chiefs and the tightest one the team has been involved in yet this season. The team moved to 4-0 on the year despite some last second jitters.

When looking back at the biggest issues for this game, it’ll most definitely be that the Chiefs couldn’t hold onto the football, which is normally something this team excels at. They don’t turn the ball over and they did that on Sunday.

All three turnovers were lost fumbles, one by Mecole Hardman on a kick return, one by Sammy Watkins, and one by Darrel Williams. That gave the Lions three more possessions and somehow on two of those, Detroit also fumbled (this was a weird game). The third one, however, led to a Detroit touchdown and that almost proved to be the difference in this one.

Not many people gave the Lions a chance in this game and their defense kept Patrick Mahomes in check all afternoon, limiting him to zero touchdowns. Mahomes eventually went over the 300 yard mark, but for the most part, Detroit contained him well.

Detroit’s strategy of punching out the football was a smart one and kept this a tight game throughout. Had the Chiefs not turned the ball over so many times, this could have easily been a blowout and a less dramatic one for Chiefs fans.

The defense wasn’t terrible on Sunday, sacking Matthew Stafford four times (he had been sacked just three times prior to this game), but they surrendered 186 yards rushing including 125 to Kerryon Johnson. It’s fine when the opposing team can run the ball if Mahomes and the Chiefs are on point, but that strategy doesn’t work when it’s a tight game.

It looked like the Chiefs might lose this game with over two minutes remaining on the clock when Stafford and company moved down the field and scored a touchdown to take a three point lead, but Mahomes rushed for a critical first down on fourth and eight. He then led the team down the field and they scored with 20 seconds left on the clock.

It was a drive that we see true quarterback greats make and Mahomes, despite not having one of the better games of his career, showed why Chiefs Kingdom has so much faith in this guy with his two minute drive.

Knowing how shaky this defense is, those final 20 seconds of the game were excruciating. Stafford connected on a big throw down the field and the Lions were at midfield with a few chances to throw a Hail Mary to the end zone. Fortunately, the Chiefs defense held serve and walked out of Ford Field with the win.

Give credit where credit is due though. The Lions played well and had every opportunity to win this game. Unfortunately for them, Stafford is no Mahomes and that was the difference despite not a huge game from the reigning MVP.

We’ve now seen the Chiefs in a tight game this season and the end result was a nerve-wracking one for Chiefs Kingdom, but at the end of the day, the Kansas City Chiefs won a huge game and are 4-0, just like the Patriots. We all know it’s going to be an arm’s race between these two for home field in the AFC.

Fumbles were a problem and the run defense was atrocious, but the silver lining in a near loss was that Mahomes didn’t have a Mahomes-like game and the Chiefs were still able to put up points and win the game. That’s what good teams do.

Next up: A date with the Indianapolis Colts at Arrowhead Stadium for Sunday Night Football. 4-0 feels good!