- Lions Upset Super Bowl Champion Chiefs in Thrilling Game
- Late-game Drama and Missed Opportunities for the Chiefs
- Mahomes’ Interception Streak Ends in Season Opener
Jared Goff hurled for 253 yards and a touchdown, and new Lions running back David Montgomery scored the game-winning touchdown with 5:05 remaining as Detroit defeated the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs 21-20 on Thursday night.
Amon-Ra St. Brown caught six passes for 71 yards and a touchdown, and Lions rookie Brian Branch returned an interception 50 yards for another score as Detroit ended Kansas City’s eight-game winning streak in Week 1. Patrick Mahomes had never previously thrown an interception in the season opener.
With 2:30 remaining, the Lions were attempting to run out the clock when Goff’s fourth-down pass near midfield was intercepted, giving the Chiefs an opportunity. But they botched it: Kadarius Toney lost a 20-yard gain, Skyy Moore dropped another, and a false start forced Mahomes to attempt a fourth-and-25 downfield.
Montgomery’s first-down run enabled the Lions to run out the clock after the pass fell incomplete and Detroit took possession.
Despite his receivers dropping numerous passes, Mahomes concluded with 226 passing yards and two touchdowns. He was also the primary rusher for the Chiefs, whose self-inflicted injuries proved fatal.
Before the game in Kansas City, where the Chiefs celebrated their previous Lombardi Trophy amid a pandemic and only 18,000 fans were able to participate in the celebration, there was equal parts anticipation and anxiety. Hundreds began picnicking in the Arrowhead Stadium parking lot on Thursday, 14 hours before kickoff while waiting for the gates to open.
This was the expectation. Injured Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and colleague All-Pro Chris Jones, who is currently holding out for a new contract, contributed to the unease. Kelce had been questionable since Tuesday when he hyperextended his knee in the final complete practice before the season opener.
A year ago, Detroit tallied first in a matchup between two of the league’s best offenses. St Brown caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Goff, who took advantage of a clear pocket made possible in part by the presence of Jones in a suite at the stadium.
The Chiefs responded with Mahomes completing passes to five different wide receivers, including newcomer Rashee Rice, who caught a short touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7.
It remained that way until Detroit head coach Dan Campbell made a dubious call near the end of the first half.
The Chiefs were facing a fourth-and-two situation near midfield when they were penalized for holding. Instead of declining the penalty, Campbell elected to push the Chiefs back. Mahomes responded to third-and-17 by completing a 24-yard pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling. He threw a 26-yard pass to Justin Watson and a short touchdown pass to Blake Bell to give the Chiefs a 14-7 halftime lead.
The Lions’ defense stepped up as the offense stalled. Branch caught a pass that ricocheted off Toney’s hands – the receiver had several mistakes during the game – and was 50 yards away from the end zone and a 14-14 tie.
In his previous five-plus season openers, Mahomes had thrown 20 touchdown passes and zero interceptions.
The Chiefs added two field goals, but their missed opportunities to score proved costly. Following Harrison Butker’s second field goal, the Lions drove 75 yards, twice converting on third down, before Montgomery’s nine-yard touchdown run gave Detroit the lead for good.
