Big first halves for Mahomes, Edwards-Helaire as Chiefs lead Texans at halftime
The Chiefs unveiled their Super Bowl LIV championship banner. Players from both sides linked arms before the game in a show of unity, and some fans in Arrowhead Stadium booed.
Embarrassing.
After a first-possession punt, the Chiefs’ offense rolled to a pair of touchdowns to take a 17-7 lead over the Houston Texans — with Patrick Mahomes capping both with short touchdown passes: 6 yards to Travis Kelce and 2 yards to Sammy Watkins. That touchdown completed a 16-play, 91-yard drive.
The Chiefs receive the kickoff to open the second half.
The Texans missed a long field goal with 25 seconds remaining before halftime. That was enough time for Mahomes to engineer a drive that resulted in Harrison Butker’s 30-yard field goal as time expired.
Welcome Clyde Edwards-Helaire
The first snap of the Chiefs’ 2020 season went to running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who picked up 3 yards. He didn’t fumble.
What’s the significance of that? The last time the Chiefs started a rookie running back, Kareem Hunt in 2017, he lost a fumble on the team’s first snap of the season.
Edwards-Helaire enjoyed a productive first half, with nine attempts for 65 yards, and displayed a variety of cuts, jukes and a burst. On the Chiefs’ 91-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter, Edwards-Helaire rushed for 40 yards.
He didn’t catch a pass in the first half.
That’s coming.
Demarcus Robinson’s half
Not a good half for wide receiver Demarcus Robinson, who had two opportunities for touchdowns and didn’t cash in.
On the Chiefs’ first possession, Mahomes’ pass found Robinson in stride. But after the 36-yard reception was ruled a touchdown, replays confirmed Robinson didn’t maintain control of the ball and the TD was overturned. On the next play, Mahomes was sacked and the Chiefs punted away their first possession.
Early in the second quarter, Mahomes rifled a pass across his body from the 6 and Robinson was open in the back of the end zone. But Robinson couldn’t keep his balance and didn’t made the catch.
About that sack ...
Most distressing about the sack by Jacob Martin: It was surrendered by right tackle Mitchell Schwartz. According to Pro Football Focus, Schwartz didn’t surrender a sack in 757 pass-blocking snaps last season.
This story was originally published September 10, 2020 at 8:51 PM.