Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has now beaten every other NFL team | Report card
And then there were no NFL opponents that Patrick Mahomes has not defeated.
In his sixth year as a full-time starter, Mahomes checked the final team off his list Sunday with a 27-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The Chiefs withstood a final Vikings possession and throw into the end zone to ice the victory.
They improved to 4-1 — no AFC team has a better record.
KC STAR OF THE GAME
Patrick Mahomes quarterbacked an offense that had stalled after scoring an opening-possession touchdown and led two touchdown drives. The Vikings spent the rest of the game in chase mode. Mahomes finished 31 of 41 for 281 yards and a 109.9 passer rating.
Next: The Chiefs have a short week. They meet the Denver Broncos at GEHA Field at Arrowhead on Thursday. The game will be broadcast on Prime Video and on KSHB (Ch. 41) in Kansas City.
REPORT CARD
Passing offense: A
Things looked bleak at halftime. The game was tied, but Mahomes and Travis Kelce were hobbling. The Chiefs got the second-half kickoff and the offense hummed, scoring touchdowns on consecutive drives. Mahomes capping both with TD passes, including one to Kelce.
Mahomes’ 8-yard touchdown pass to Rashee Rice to open the second half was a bullet. But the big play happened earlier. On third-and-18 from the 17, Mahomes heaved a rainbow just before getting sacked. Justin Watson’s great concentration allowed him to make the catch at midfield for a 33-yard gain.
Justyn Ross made a terrific catch along the sideline for his second career reception. This one went for 20 yards and was part of a drive that resulted in a field goal. But Ross also had a couple of drops.
Rushing offense: C
Isiah Pacheco was his usual hard-running, move-the-pile self and powered in from the 1 for the game’s first touchdown. With a chance to extend a drive in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs and Pacheco couldn’t come up with 1 yard and punted.
Pacheco finished with 56 hard-earned rushing yards.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire couldn’t find holes and was ineffective.
Passing defense: B
The defense came up with a huge play on the game’s first snap, when Justin Reid jarred loose the ball from tight end Josh Oliver and Bryan Cook recovered. That led to a Chiefs touchdown.
But the defense couldn’t get out of its own way on a second-quarter possession. Four Chiefs penalties, all while defending Justin Jefferson, gave the Vikings 36 yards and led to a field goal.
L’Jarius Sneed got many of the snaps early against Jefferson, and Trent McDuffie also drew the assignment. They helped hold down the NFL’s top-producing wide receiver. Early in the fourth quarter, Jefferson hobbled off the field with a hamstring injury. He finished with three receptions for 28 yards.
Leo Chanel charged unblocked for a sack, and Chris Jones added a second sack. Mike Danna ended the Vikings’ Hail Mary opportunity by dropping Kirk Cousins on the game’s final play.
Rushing defense: B
The Chiefs turned in a solid effort slowing Alexander Mattison and the Vikings’ running game (70 yards). Linebacker Drue Tranquill started for the third straight game as Nick Bolton continues to heal an injured ankle.
Special teams: D
Oh, no. Not again. The Chiefs, burned by the Detroit Lions’ fake punt in their season opener, got scorched again. The Vikings faced a fourth-and-2 near midfield and the boos rained down when Kevin O’Connell sent on the punt unit.
Unlike the Lions game, KC special teams coordinator Dave Toub kept his unit on the field. It didn’t matter. The snap went to upback Ty Chandler and he picked up 15 yards on a well-blocked play.
This story was originally published October 8, 2023 at 6:41 PM.