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As per tradition as the defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs hosted the Detroit Lions in the first game of the 2023-24 NFL season. The Chiefs were missing […]
As per tradition as the defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs hosted the Detroit Lions in the first game of the 2023-24 NFL season. The Chiefs were missing tight end Travis Kelce (injury) and defensive tackle Chris Jones (holdout) but were still favored heading in to the matchup.
The Lions picked up seven yards from running back David Montgomery on their first offensive play of the season, but the drive quickly sputtered in to a three-and-out thanks to some pressure from the Chiefs defense. Kansas City moved the ball a bit more on their opening drive, but was also forced to punt as Detroit dialed up some early pressure.
Detroit was set to go three-and-out again despite a third down catch from Marvin Jones Jr., but a successful fake punt on their own 17-yard line kept the drive alive. The offense started heating up with back-to-back first down passes from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Josh Reynolds. Rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs ripped off a 17-yard run on his second career carry as Detroit continued to drive down the field. On 3rd-and-6 from the 9-yard line, Goff found St. Brown for the first TD of the season, giving the Lions a 7-0 lead.
Needing to respond, the Chiefs offense was more tuned in on their next drive, with an 18-yard catch on third down by wide receiver Justin Watson, a nifty third-and-6 pickup by Patrick Mahomes with a generous spot on the end of his scramble, and a 16-yard scamper by Mahomes that got the Chiefs in the red zone. On third down, the Chiefs converted once again, weaving a pass to rookie Rashee Rice in the back of the end zone to tie the game at 7-7 in the second quarter.
The Lions were driving on their next possession, sparked by a St. Brown 21-yard catch, but lost the ball deep in Chiefs territory on their second fumble of the drive, with Marvin Jones Jr. fumbling at the 7-yard line, giving up a key scoring chance for Detroit.
The Chiefs didn’t do anything with the extra possession, going three-and-out in 1:27 of game time, followed by the Lions going three-and-out (ending with a Mike Danna sack of Goff) in 1:45 of game time.
Mahomes then executed a perfect two-minute drill: hitting Rice for 25 yards to start the drive, finding Marquez Valdes-Scantling for 34 yards, Justin Watson for 26 yards and finally, Blake Bell for a 4-yard touchdown, giving the Chiefs a 14-7 lead with 0:34 to go in the first half. The Lions were not able to get in scoring position before halftime.
Starting the second half on their own 42-yard line, the Chiefs had a chance to take a two-score led. But for the first time in his career, Mahomes tossed a Week 1 interception. Mahomes’ pass bounced right off the hands of Kadarius Toney, who the interception should really be credited to, but it goes down under Mahomes name nonetheless. Safety Brian Branch took the interception 50 yards to the house to even the score at 14 with 10:54 to play in the third quarter.
The Chiefs ran just five plays on their next drive before ceding the ball back to Detroit, who mustered a 6-play, 43-yard drive sparked by, you guessed it, St. Brown with an 18-yard catch.
After getting the ball back, Mahomes go the Chiefs in scoring position with a 22-yard scramble and a 41-yard pass interference call against Cameron Sutton on a pass intended for Watson. The drive stalled in the redzone, but earned a field goal to give the Chiefs a 17-14 lead.
Detroit went three-and-out to follow, with Goff missing St. Brown twice. Mahomes answered with another field goal drive, with nothing too flashy besides a 24-yard Noah Gray catch to end the third quarter. Harrison Butker’s 39-yard field goal made it 20-14 Chiefs with 12:11 to play.
Desperate for a score, the Lions drove 75 yards on 9 plays, highlighted by 18 and 33-yard catches by Josh Reynolds. David Montgomery picked up the final 14 yards of the drive, with an 8-yard touchdown run to put the Lions up 21-20 with 7:06 to play.
The Chiefs went three-and-out on the next drive, losing three yards on 3rd-and-1 with a direct snap to Blake Bell, putting the game in jeopardy for Kansas City for the first time. The Chiefs defense was able to get the ball back, stopping Detroit on 4th-and-2 from the Kansas City 45-yard line.
Down 1 point with 55 yards to go until the endzone. 2:33 left. All three timeouts. It almost seemed like a foregone conclusion the Chiefs would come out on top in this scenario, but a Toney drop on a long first down pass and an offensive holding penatly gave the Chiefs a 4th-and-20, which they went for, negated by a false start, ceating a 4th-and-25.. which they alo went for. Mahomes desperation pass fell incomplete, and the Lions took over with 2:00 to play.
The Lions pounded out the win behind David Montgomery and their strong offensive line. Montgomery pikced up a first down all by himself, on three attempts, to end the game, and give the Lions a 21-20 victory.
The defensing Super Bowl champions are 0-1. And the hottest team from the second half of the 2022-23 season, the Detroit Lions, are 1-0 after the NFL’s opening night.
Header Photo Credits: Detroit Free Press
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