By Jesse Newell, Colton Pouncy and Rebecca Tauber<\/p>\n
Patrick Mahomes threw for 257 yards and three touchdown passes \u2014 two to Hollywood Brown \u2014 as the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Detroit Lions 30-17 Sunday night to get to 3-3 on the season.<\/p>\n
The action didn\u2019t end when the clock ran out, however. A scuffle broke out<\/a> between Brian Branch and JuJu Smith-Schuster, beginning when Branch refused a handshake from Mahomes. Smith-Schuster also tried to shake Branch\u2019s hand. But Branch instead slapped Smith-Schuster, who was still wearing his helmet, on his face, causing Smith-Schuster to fall to the ground.<\/p>\n The Lions dropped to 4-2 ahead of their matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while the Chiefs next take on the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7.<\/p>\n Chiefs\u2019 offense on fire<\/p>\n This Chiefs offense has dominated for three consecutive weeks \u2014 and should get even better. They scored touchdowns on four of its first seven drives and overwhelmed a Detroit defense battling injuries in the secondary. The Chiefs \u2014 following a week when they went for 7.6 yards per play against the Jacksonville Jaguars \u2014 had a healthy 6.1 yards per gain (before kneeldowns).<\/p>\n Mahomes looked comfortable and in control all night, completing 22 of 30 attempts.<\/p>\n The Chiefs will be even more whole next week. Top receiver Rashee Rice will return following a six-game NFL suspension, and inside the team\u2019s offices he\u2019s considered their best skill position player aside from Mahomes.<\/p>\n In other words\u2026 this could just be the start of a revival for the Chiefs\u2019 offense to something similar to its glory days of the late 2010s. \u2014 Jesse Newell, Chiefs beat writer<\/p>\n Keeping things afloat<\/p>\n The Chiefs, battling a brutal early-season schedule, needed this win. If they had slipped to 2-4, their chances of reaching the playoffs would have been just slightly better than a coin flip with a challenging slate remaining.<\/p>\n The Chiefs can now take a bit of a breather. They\u2019re only a game behind the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos in the AFC West, and that\u2019s with seven of their eight divisional games still ahead of them.<\/p>\n Kansas City had played better than its record to this point, but eventually, a positive result was needed. The Chiefs got that Sunday night. \u2014\u00a0Newell<\/p>\n Defense stands out in one area<\/p>\n The Chiefs talked all week about matching the Lions\u2019 physicality. They did that all night defensively, thanks mostly to a tough group of back-seven players.<\/p>\n Linebacker Leo Chenal had a standout game while shutting down run lanes. Defensive backs Bryan Cook and Chamarri Conner flew downhill to make plays, while Jaylen Watson had one of his best games.<\/p>\n Up front, defensive tackle Chris Jones followed a week in which he was criticized for his late-game effort against the Jacksonville Jaguars by putting together his best performance of this season.<\/p>\n The defense was gashed at times over the middle by Detroit\u2019s pass game, but the Chiefs\u2019 defensive effort was always there. They certainly weren\u2019t bullied by a Lions offense that has manhandled some previous opponents. \u2014 Newell<\/p>\n Detroit lacked the plays<\/p>\n Even with injuries in the secondary and at left tackle, the Lions didn\u2019t make the necessary plays. They didn\u2019t capitalize in the red zone on their opening possession, settling for a field goal after a trick play was nullified<\/a>. Amon-Ra St. Brown had an uncharacteristic drop on fourth down, and the defense \u2014 looking slow and lost at times \u2014 couldn\u2019t get off the field when needed.<\/p>\n That will never get it done against Mahomes. To make matters worse, Branch shoved Smith-Schuster<\/a> after the final whistle. That\u2019ll be a hefty fine, at least. Not a good night for the Lions. \u2014 Colton Pouncy, Lions beat writer<\/p>\n Can the Lions stand up to the Bucs?<\/p>\n