The (2-3) Kansas City Chiefs close out today’s NFL action by hosting the (4-1) Detroit Lions on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium for the Week 6 edition of “Sunday Night Football.” The Lions — hobbled by the absence of starters like cornerbacks D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold and left tackle Taylor Decker, along with several reserve players — are bringing the league’s No. 1 scoring offense to Kansas City in search of their fifth consecutive win. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are anxious for a victory that would bring their record back to 0.500 — and their season back from the brink of a potential disaster.
The Lions won the kickoff, and they elected to receive. Running back Craig Reynolds fielded Harrison Butker’s kick and returned the ball to the Detroit 29-yard line to start the game. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs gained four yards on first down before gaining another yard on the next play. On third-and-5, quarterback Jared Goff found tight end Sam LaPorta to move the chains. Gibbs again started the next series with a four-yard carry, before Goff connected with wideout Jameson Williams for another first down at the Kansas City 44. On the next play, a pass to Williams moved the drive inside the 30. On first down, safety Bryan Cook limited an end around with wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to only two yards, but a Gibbs carry set up third-and-2, and Gibbs gained the needed yards. A short pass to St. Brown saw a lateral to Gibbs that netted four yards. Gibbs’ next carry set up first-and-goal at the eight. Gibbs edged to the goal line to set up fourth-and-1. The Lions appeared to have scored a touchdown as running back David Montgomery threw to Goff, who had moved out in motion. The score was nullified by penalty. After a delay of game, the Lions finally brought kicker Jake Bates on for a 28-yard field goal. After Detroit’s first possession ran nearly ten minutes off of the game clock, the Lions opened the scoring with a 3-0 lead over Kansas City.
Nikko Remigio took Bates’ kickoff in front of the end zone and returned to the Kansas City 31 to start the drive. Running back Isiah Pacheco took the first down carry, but he gained only a yard. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce connected for 16-yards to the 46-yard line on the next play. On first down, Mahomes found wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster on the run for 30 yards to the Detroit 24. Pacheco rumbled to the 13-yard line on the next play. After a two-yard gain by Pacheco, Mahomes could not escape pressure on second down and threw the ball away. On third-and-8 from the 11, Mahomes scrambled to the six to set up fourth down. The Chiefs bypassed on a field goal on fourth-and-3, and Mahomes threw a touchdown to wide receiver Xavier Worthy. Butker, unfortunately, was no good on the extra point. The Chiefs pulled ahead with a 6-3 lead.
Reynolds returned Butker’s kick to the Detroit 29. Montgomery started the drive with a three-yard carry. On the final play of the first quarter, Goff threw to LaPorta for 26 yards to the Kansas City 42.
On first down, Montgomery ran to the 30 for 12 yards. After Montgomery gained six yards on first down, a scrambling Goff found St. Brown on a short throw to set up third-and-3. On the next play, Goff connected with Williams for a 22-yard touchdown. Bates extra point gave Detroit a 10-6 lead.
Remigio brought Bates’ kickoff out to the Chiefs’ 31 to start the drive. Mahomes escaped a sack to find receiver Hollywood Brown at midfield on the drive’s first play. Tight end Noah Gray caught a six-yard pass on first down. Mahomes did not gain on an outside run, setting up third-and-4. Running back Kareem Hunt gained three yards before punching it through on fourth down. On first down from the Detroit 38, Mahomes handed off to Pacheco, who tossed it to Worthy who pitched it back to the quarterback. The intended pass play never opened, but Mahomes easily ran for the first down. Disaster came after a two-yard Pacheco run. Mahomes had the ball knocked from his hand, setting up third-and-18 from the 36. Smith-Schuster nearly gained the needed yardage and set up fourth-and-1 from the 19. After a timeout, Mahomes could not connect with Worthy, and the Lions took over at their own 19.
Gibbs carried on the drive’s first two plays for a total of six yards. On third-and-4, the Chiefs’ trouble with normally non-mobile quarterbacks continued as Goff scrambled for the first down. Gibbs ran for 15 yards to the 48. On the next play, Gibbs appeared stopped for minimal gain before ultimately gaining six. Goff grounded the ball at the feet of Montgomery on the next play to avoid the sack. Montgomery gained two yards on third down to set up fourth-and-2 at the Kansas City 45. Goff was incomplete to St. Brown, and the Chiefs took over with 2:42 remaining in the first half.
A first down pass to Pacheco went nowhere, but Brown made an acrobatic catch at the Detroit 42 on the next play, setting up a first down on the other side of the two-minute warning. Coming out of the break, Pacheco gained two yards. Mahomes went to Kelce for a first down on the next play. Mahomes was incomplete to Worthy and Kelce on the next two plays, setting up third-and-10. The Lions appeared to limit Kansas City to a long field goal attempt, but a pass interference call against Kelce gave the Chiefs a first down at the 18. Mahomes and Kelce connected to the one-yard line on the next play. Seeing a Detroit player offsides, Mahomes kept the ball for an easy rushing touchdown. Butker was good on his second extra point attempt, and the Chiefs took a 13-10 lead.
Reynolds returned Butker’s kickoff to the Detroit 32, and the Lions offense came back on the field with 33 seconds remaining in the half. A throw to LaPorta gained five yards. St. Brown caught a pass for three yards, and Detroit took their final timeout facing third-and-2. Goff could not connect with Gibbs, and Jack Fox came on for the game’s first punt. Remigio called for a fair catch at the Kansas City 11. Mahomes kneeled to end the half with the Chiefs set to receive the third quarter kickoff.
Remigio could not get a return going on Bates’ kickoff, and the Chiefs started the half at their own 19. Running back Brashard Smith’s first catch of the night went for nine yards, and Pacheco added a nine-yard run on the next play. Mahomes went to Gray on the next play for 19 yards to the Detroit 44. After Mahomes was incomplete to Pacheco on first down, Mahomes and Kelce connected for 13 yards to the 31. Mahomes scrambled for 11 yards, and then threw a screen to Hunt for 11 more to set up first-and-goal at the nine. A pop pass to Brown gained the needed yardage for a touchdown. Butker’s extra point extended the lead to Chiefs 20, Lions 10.
Reynolds’ return started Detroit at their own 26. Gibbs started the possession with a five-yard run. After he gained two more yards on second down, Goff and St. Brown narrowly connected for the first down. A quick pass to Williams then moved the possession to the Chiefs’ 48. Gibbs gained two yards on first down — before losing three on second down. On third-and-11 from the Chiefs 49, Williams was dropped just in front of the line of scrimmage. Remigio fielded Fox’s punt at the Chiefs’ seven-yard line.
Hunt started the drive with a three-yard run. Mahomes was incomplete to Pacheco, setting up third-and-7. Mahomes and Kelce again connected for 17 yards to the 27. The drive then stalled with Mahomes gaining only six yards on third-and-8. Matt Araiza’s first punt of the night was fair caught at the Detroit 18-yard line by receiver Kalif Raymond.
The first play saw Montgomery gain 23 yards on a pass. St. Brown then moved the drive to the Kansas City 46. Another throw to St. Brown gained 11 yards to the 35. The first down saw a third consecutive throw to St. Brown, this time for six yards. On second-and-4 from the 29, Williams took a pop pass to the Chiefs 23. On the final play of the third quarter, Montgomery took a screen pass to the nine-yard line, where the Lions would face third-and-goal on the other side of the break.
The final frame opened with Goff and St. Brown connecting to the five-yard line. On the next play, LaPorta brought in a touchdown pass in the back of the end zone. Bates’ extra point narrowed the lead to Chiefs 20, Lions 17.
Remigio brought the kickoff to the Kansas City 31-yard line. Hunt started with a three-yard run. Mahomes was hit as he threw on second down, but a roughing the passer penalty moved the ball to the 49. Worthy carried the ball to the Detroit 45. On the next play, Worthy broke a tackle and took a pass for 14 yards to the 31. Smith-Schuster moved the ball to the 20. Smith took a pass out of the backfield for eight yards, and Pacheco then set up first-and-goal at the nine-yard line. Pacheco carried to the three-yard line. Mahomes could not find a play on second down. On third-and-goal from the three, Mahomes and Brown connected for their second touchdown of the night. Butker’s extra point once again extended the lead to ten points at Chiefs 27, Lions 17.
Reynolds returned the kickoff to the Detroit 26. Linebacker Nick Bolton dropped Gibbs for a three-yard loss on first down. St. Brown gained the three yards back on a second down catch. On third-and-10, Charles Omenihu sacked Goff to force a three-and-out. Remigio fielded Fox’s punt at the Kansas City 31-yard line — and was able to get outside for a 20-yard return to the Detroit 49-yard line.
In the third quarter, the telecast reported that running back Kareem Hunt was in the medical tent. He returned in the fourth quarter.
Defensive tackle Chris Jones was seen receiving attention on his elbow in the third quarter. He returned to the field on the Chiefs’ next defensive series.
Wide receiver Nikko Remigio registered a 20-yard punt return in the fourth quarter to start a Kansas City drive in Detroit territory.
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