Lions @ Chiefs
Final Score: Lions 24, Chiefs 23
Writer: Riley Blum
The Lions may have won the game, but it didn’t feel like it while watching. Though they rested their starters, the Lions’ QBs were constantly under pressure and had a couple of costly turnovers. Conversely, Mahomes and the Chiefs looked sharp and seemingly moved the ball at will most of the game. Not much can be gleaned on the Lions’ end since we didn’t see the starters, but the Chiefs look like they will be back to having a potent offense as in years prior while also looking solid on defense and special teams.
Two Up
- Xavier Worthy – Made multiple big plays in the passing game including his first NFL TD, was utilized in creative ways, and displayed chemistry with his QB.
- Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ passing attack – Mahomes and the other QBs routinely looked to push the ball downfield and the pass protection was solid, especially while the starters were playing. Very positive signs to see after Mahomes posted a career-low aDOT last season.
Two Down
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire – This isn’t due to CEH’s performance as he was inactive for this game with an illness. It’s due to the fact that young RBs Carson Steele and Deneric Prince flashed some upside in CEH’s absence. Arrowhead Pride writer Mark Gunnels suggests CEH won’t be cut and will remain the team’s RB2, but with CEH reportedly dealing with PTSD and the young guns performing in the opportunities they are given, things are trending in a negative direction for the former first-round draft pick.
- The Lions’ special teams – The Lions coughed the ball up twice on returns, first losing a fumble on a kick return, leading to the Chiefs’ first TD. The Lions fumbled again on a punt return, but they managed to recover the ball. They also surrendered several big returns, including a 43-yard kick return by Skyy Moore and a 42-yard punt return by Nikko Remigio. Even if it wasn’t the Lions’ typical starters playing, Dan Campbell will not be happy with this group. Kicker Jack Bates was a bright spot at least going 4/4 on field goals with a long of 55 yards; however, he also missed his only PAT attempt.
Detroit Lions
Quarterback
Nate Sudfeld: 14/27, 196 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1 carry, 10 yards
Sudfeld mostly worked the short passing game as the Chiefs pass rush often generated pressure. He threw one pick and had a few other throws where he couldn’t hit his pass catchers. He was most successful working off of play action; his best moment came on a first down play action pass where he hit Jaden Davis, who was able to outrun Chiefs defenders for a 61-yard TD. Sudfeld’s lone run also came on play action when he fooled the defense with a good fake toss to the RB.
Hendon Hooker: 12/15, 150 yards, 5 carries, 11 yards, 1 TD, 1 fumble lost
Hooker definitely looked more dynamic on the field than Sudfeld, extending plays and scoring a rushing touchdown in this game. There were times I think he held the ball too long, and he did take a sack. His arm strength also stood out to me as he threw a couple of lasers.
Running Back
Craig Reynolds: 1 carry, 5 yards, 1 reception, 3 yards
Reynolds didn’t get much run in this one and is currently listed as the Lions’ RB3 on the depth chart. He shouldn’t get much fantasy relevance with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs ahead of him, but it’ll be interesting to watch the RB3 battle between him and our next player.
Sione Vaki: 6 carries, 22 yards, 4 receptions, 60 yards
Vaki stood out the most to me among Detroit’s RBs. He looked decisive running the ball, often making one quick cut and looking to hit the hole. There was also a Lions’ possession where he caught three balls in a row for good chunk gains. He picked up several first downs for the Lions. The fourth-round pick out of Utah should make the Lions’ 53-man roster and will look to push Reynolds for the RB3 job.
Jake Funk: 8 carries, 13 yards, 2 receptions, 27 yards
Zonovan Knight: 8 carries, 36 yards
“Bam” Knight ran hard and led the Lions in rushing with 36 yards. He also had their longest run on the day with a 13-yard gain.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Isaiah Williams: 8 targets, 6 receptions, 71 yards, 1 carry, 11 yards
Williams led the Lions in receiving on the day and also got a carry. He also served as the team’s punt returner (3 returns for 41 yards) with a long return of 20 yards on the day. He did fumble once on a punt return, which the Lions recovered.
Kaden Davis: 7 targets, 2 receptions, 64 yards, 1 TD
Davis was targeted fairly often but only recorded two catches on the day. One of those catches was the biggest highlight for the Lions offense, though. Running a crossing route on a first down play action, Davis caught a pass from Sudfeld and outran the Chiefs’ defenders the remaining 40 yards to the end zone for a 61-yard TD.
Maurice Alexander: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 40 yards
Tom Kennedy: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 31 yards, 1 carry, 9 yards
Daurice Fountain: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 15 yards
James Mitchell: 1 target, 1 reception, 13 yards
Jalon Calhoun: 1 target, 1 reception, 12 yards
Calhoun lost a fumble on a kickoff return, which doesn’t help his odds of making the roster this season.
Donovan Peoples-Jones: 4 targets, 1 reception, 5 yards
Not much to say here, but DPJ’s size did stand out to me on screen. He is a big-bodied WR.
Shane Zylstra: 2 targets, 1 reception, 5 yards
Kansas City Chiefs
Quarterback
Patrick Mahomes: 8/14, 93 yards
Mahomes looked poised and as good as ever. The offensive line provided him with good protection and he took advantage of it. He hit Xavier Worthy on a deep 39-yard pass to convert on third and 10 and connected often with second-year WR Rashee Rice. Though the deep ball to Worthy was his best pass of the day in my eyes, the one everyone will be talking about is this behind-the-back pass to Travis Kelce that went for 8 yards to convert on third down. Mahomes continues to Mahomes things.
Carson Wentz: 5/10, 31 yards, 1 TD
Wentz looked better than the numbers suggest, and the offense was able to move the ball well with him at the helm. He connected with an open Xavier Worthy for the Chiefs’ first touchdown following a Lions’ fumble. Wentz looked to push the ball down the field as well and took a couple of deep shots to WRs Justyn Ross and Mecole Hardman.
Chris Oladokun: 6/7, 99 yards, 1 TD, 1 carry, 3 yards
Oladokun looked solid in the pocket and had a good afternoon other than the one sack he took. His TD pass was a strong throw over a defender to hit the crossing Cornell Powell who did the rest and took it to the house. He finished with the highest passer rating on the day.
Ian Book: 2/4, 16 yards, 1 fumble lost
Book had the Chiefs’ only turnover on the day losing a fumble.
Running Back
Isiah Pacheco: 1 carry, 2 yards
Pacheco is the lead back in Kansas City and isn’t in any danger of losing his starting job as things currently stand.
Carson Steele: 3 carries, 8 yards, 2 receptions, -3 yards
Once again, the stats don’t tell the full story here. Steele got some run with Patrick Mahomes and the first-team offense on the Chiefs’ second possession. He remained in at RB when Carson Wentz took the field on the following possession, and he made a good block in pass protection, giving Wentz the time to hit Xavier Worthy for the TD. He also had a solid kick return for 36 yards. Overall, the rookie is improving his case for being on the final roster.
Deneric Prince: 7 carries, 47 yards, 1 reception, 7 yards
The leading rusher on the day, largely due to his long 41-yard run. Prince flashed some explosiveness this game and he runs hard. Like Steele, he helped his stock in this game.
Missed Opportunities
- Prince had another good run where he got the edge and gained about 13 yards but it was called back on a holding penalty.
- Prince got separation on a wheel route out of the backfield that would have been a good gain but Wentz slightly overthrew him.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Xavier Worthy: 6 targets, 3 receptions, 62 yards, 1 TD, 1 carry, 11 yards
The Chiefs’ shiny new toy is living up to his first-round draft capital. Worthy plays bigger than his size (5’11”, 165 lbs), and there were no signs this game of his size holding him back. He got open deep a couple of times, one leading to a big 39-yard gain on third and long, and the other leading to his TD. The only blemish on his day came on his lone carry on a reverse when he fumbled. Worthy did recover it, though. Worthy was moved around the formation and even ran a route on motion out of the backfield. It’s encouraging to see Andy Reid utilizing him in multiple ways and working to get the ball into the speedy rookie’s hands.
Rashee Rice: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 35 yards
QB Patrick Mahomes targeted the second-year WR early and often. Rice was targeted the first ply of the game and four plays in a row on the second possession. He picked up two good 14-yard chunk gains and displayed the YAC ability we saw from him last season.
Missed Opportunities
- Rice did have one drop, but he was losing his footing and looking back into the sun so it’s not one I would really knock him for. Mahomes went right back to him the next play, too.
Travis Kelce: 1 target, 1 reception, 8 yards
Kelce’s only catch on the day was the aforementioned behind-the-back pass from Patrick Mahomes.
Justin Watson: 1 target, 1 reception, 20 yards
Watson’s lone catch came on the first possession, so he was out there running with the first-team offense with Hollywood Brown sidelined by injury.
Justyn Ross: 2 targets, 0 receptions
It’s good to see the 6’4″ WR on the field and healthy.
Missed Opportunities
- On a deep ball from Carson Wentz, Ross went up and made a great grab, but narrowly missed getting his second foot down in bounds (his foot barely touched the sideline).
- On another deep target, there was clear holding/pass interference on the defender, but the refs missed the call.
Jared Wiley: 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards
Didn’t get to see much from the rookie TE, but the broadcast team and Travis Kelce spoke pretty highly of him. He played in the first half with his only catch coming from Carson Wentz.
Kadarius Toney: 2 targets, 1 reception, -4 yards
The Chiefs tried to get Toney the ball on a WR screen, but he didn’t have the blocking to do anything with it. Toney also took one punt return for 7 yards. He got flagged for holding on what would have been a 13-yard run by Deneric Prince.
Irv Smith Jr.: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 11 yards
Cornell Powell: 2 targets, 1 reception, 64 yards, 1 TD
Plucked a pass from Chris Oladokun out of the air and took off, breaking a tackle and winning the footrace to the end zone for a 64-yard TD.