Kansas City Chiefs (0-1) – Detroit Lions (1-0): 20 – 21
We saw a better way to celebrate a title. Faced with Lions who never gave up, the Chiefs stumbled at the opening of this new season. Not helped by Kadarius Toney who did everything to make his team lose, Patrick Mahomes (21/29, 236 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception) still managed to make everyone shine. But when it came time to go for victory, he will have missed that little something extra that Travis Kelce knows how to bring so well.
But all the credit goes to Dan Campbell’s men who held on until the end. Well helped by their young players, Brian Branch (3 tackles, 1 interception, 1 touchdown), Aidan Hutchinson and Jahmyr Gibbs (7 races, 42 yards) in the lead, the Lions were also able to count on Jared Goff (22/35, 253 yards, 1 touchdown) inspired whose connection with Amon-Ra St.Brown (6 receptions, 71 yards, 1 touchdown) is already very sharp. In a very open NFC, we will have to reckon with these Detroit Lions!
A Patrick Mahomes in diesel mode, cheeky and eye-catching Lions
After a timid start to the match where both attacks had to punt prematurely, the Lions allowed themselves the first big risk of the season by offering themselves a fake punt in their 20 yards managed by Jalen Reeves-Maybin. The momentum created, the Lions took advantage of it to open the scoring with a touchdown from Amon-Ra St.Brown in the process (0-7). In response, Patrick Mahomes finally finds rhythm and offers Rashee Rice his first career touchdown (7-7). From the next drive, the Lions showed some inaccuracies. First with a snap touched by Sam LaPorta that Goff covers well. But a few seconds later, on a reception well secured by Marvin Jones, Trent McDuffie caused a fumble, covered by Bryan Cook.
Just before halftime, this is the moment chosen by Mahomes to show that he has lost none of his magic. First with a pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a 34-yard gain just after an offensive holding, before finishing the job for a touchdown from Blake Bell. And here the Chiefs are in front at halfway (14-7).
Returning from the locker room, and while the Chiefs seem to be in control, Kadarius Toney strangely lets slip a precise pass from Mahomes that Lions rookie Brian Branch intercepts then returns for an easy touchdown (14-14). At the end of the third quarter, the Chiefs added three points after a new ball poorly negotiated by Toney on the third attempt (17-14).
Without Travis Kelce, Mahomes has difficulty finishing drives, but he still leaves with points almost systematically as confirmed by his opening offensive drive of the fourth quarter (20-14).
Questionable management of Andy Reid
But once again, it’s when we feel the Chiefs tightening their grip on the match that the Lions rebel. Carried by the Jared Goff-Josh Reynolds duo to move up the field, Dan Campbell’s men regain the advantage thanks to a touchdown from David Montgomery (20-21).
Despite several opportunities, the Chiefs will never find a way to endanger the Lions defense again. With three timeouts and more than two minutes to play, Andy Reid had time to give the ball back to the Detroit players and give himself another chance, but in fourth and twenty, it was too much for this Patrick Mahomes there and especially for receivers available.
Clearly, the absence of Travis Kelce will have been detrimental when it came time to snatch the victory, and given the performance of the man who was to become the number 1 receiver in Kansas City this season, the Chiefs will really need their tight end All-Pro to watch the Super Bowl again. The Lions confirm that they will have to be reckoned with in the NFC this year.
