Detroit Lions Beat Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs to Maintain Momentum

In a league where Patrick Mahomes has established himself as a leader of late-game heroics, it was reasonable to expect another magical finish from the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback. With just 2 minutes and 37 seconds left in the final quarter, the Chiefs were only a point behind the Detroit Lions. 

However, Thursday night proved that Mahomes is human, and more so, this isn’t the Lions teams of the past. 

The first play of the Chiefs' would-be game-winning drive saw wide receiver Kadarius Toney drop an uncontested pass. Following that, a completed pass to Skyy Moore was nullified due to an offensive holding penalty. Subsequent incompletions and another penalty stymied the Chiefs' efforts, allowing the Lions to secure a shocking 21-20 victory in the NFL's season opener.

"Inconsistency plagued us tonight. Drops aren't something we're used to," lamented Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid.

This defeat was particularly startling for Chiefs fans who had earlier witnessed the unveiling of their team's most recent Super Bowl banner. Mahomes, a two-time Super Bowl champion and MVP, appeared to be a step behind the Lions for the majority of the game.

"I hate losing, period," Mahomes said. "It's great to celebrate past achievements, but this is a new season."

Are the Lions For Real? 

On the Lions' side, the victory extends a momentum-building run that began last year when they won eight out of their last ten games. 

Lions' Head Coach Dan Campbell, now in his third year, continued to demonstrate his penchant for aggressive play-calling. Early in the first quarter, Campbell called for a fake punt from their own 17-yard line, leading to an eventual touchdown pass from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown. This play set the tone for the rest of the game. 

On the defense side, the Lions turned in a valiant effort, making Mahomes work for every last year. In the end, they only surrendered 226 passing yards on 21 completions. 

What’s Next for the Lions and Chiefs?

Ultimately, the Lions exited Arrowhead Stadium with a landmark victory, signaling a turning point for a franchise that has been a bottom-feeder for years. 

"We're fed up with being the nearly-men of this league," stated Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit's second-year defensive end.

With the victory, the Lions are putting the rest of the league on notice. The sports betting market also took notice, with the team’s odds of winning the Super Bowl improving to +1700. 

Next up for the Lions is a home contest against the Seattle Seahawks. It’s yet another opportunity for them to prove that they’re a frontrunner to make a playoff push and Super Bowl run. 

As for the Chiefs, even in defeat, they remain a formidable force and will garner the full attention of their competition throughout the season. Despite the loss, the Chiefs are still a favorite to win the Super Bowl at +650 odds. It’ll be interesting to see how they bounce back on the road in week two against the Jacksonville Jaguars.