The NFL Season kicked off Thursday night as the Kansas City Chiefs faced off against the Detroit Lions in Arrowhead. The Detroit Lions Come into the season with high hopes of making the playoffs and possibly winning their first division title in many years. The Kansas City Chiefs come into the season looking to defend their title as NFL Champions. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid have their work cut out for them this year as Pro Bowl DE Chris Jones is holding out over a contract dispute, and TE Travis Kelce missed his first game since his rookie season in 2013.

1st Quarter

After the Lions forced the Kansas City Chiefs to go 3 and out on their first drive, the Detroit Lions opened the year as the first team to score a Touchdown this season. The Detroit Lions led an exciting drive where we saw the Detroit Lions go for it on 4th down inside their 20-yard line. The Detroit Lions saw flashes of how dynamic the new running back duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs can truly be. Rookie running back Gibbs can truly bring the explosiveness this team needs this season with a great opening drive to start his career, with 3 carries for 18 yards with a 17-yard carry to lead the way. Montgomery picked up 24 yards on 5 carries and Jared Goff connected with Amon-Ra St. Brown to end the drive with a touchdown.

The Kansas City Chiefs Fired back quickly scoring on the very next drive. Patrick Mahomes hooked up with Justin Watson for a 19-yard gain taking the Chiefs close the 50-yard line. After a couple of short gains, Mahomes scrambled up the middle taking them just past the 50-yard line as the first quarter came to an end.

2^nd Quarter

Mahomes came out in the 2^nd quarter with a little more momentum. He completed a 5-yard pass to Pacheco to start the quarter off. The very next play Mahomes was able to find Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a gain of 14 yards bringing them inside the DET 30-yard line. Two plays later Mahomes did what he does best scrambled up the middle to pick 16 yards and bring Kansas City inside the 10-yard line, eventually setting up Rice to punch the ball in for the Chief’s first touchdown of the year.

                The Detroit Lions came out moving the ball well again, Goff found Amon St. Brown for a 21-yard gain early in the drive. Gibbs picked up 18 yards on 2 carries on the Detroit Lions 2^nd drive of the season. The Lions ended their 2^nd drive with a turnover as Trent Mcduffie forced a fumble on M Jones at the Kansas City 7-yard line.

                After 3 and outs by both teams, the Kansas City Chiefs marched down the field to end the quarter. Mahomes kept the ball moving through the air completing passes to 9 different receivers in the first half. Mahomes completed a pass to Noah Gray for 10 yards that was called back for a holding penalty putting the Chiefs in a 3^rd and 17 situation. The Chiefs converted their 3^rd and long play after Mahomes found Valdes Scantling for a 34-yard gain bringing them to the Detroit 30-yard line. Two plays later Mahomes found Bell for a 4-yard touchdown pass his 2^nd on the night.

                The Detroit Lions got the ball back with 34 seconds left on the clock to close out the half. The Kansas City Chiefs head into the half with a 14 – 7 lead over the Detroit Lions.

3^rd Quarter

The Kansas City Chiefs opened the 2^nd half with the football, with an uneventful 5 play drive before punting the ball back to the Lions. The Detroit Lion’s first drive of the 2nd half resulted in a 3 and out in what also was a very uneventful 1st drive to open the first half. On the Kansas City Chiefs 2nd drive of the half, Patrick Mahomes was moving the ball down the field in what looked like a promising drive. On 3rd and 6, Mahomes overthrew his receiver leading to a 50-yard interception and touchdown return by Brian Branch to tie up the game at 14.

The lions and chiefs exchanged possessions after this, and neither generated anything out of the possessions and both ended with a punt. The Chiefs were able to manage a field goal before the end of the third quarter after a big Defensive Pass Interference Penalty called on Cameron Sutton that resulted in 41 yards for the Chiefs.

4^th Quarter

Kansas City had the ball to begin the 4^th quarter, Patrick found Clyde Edwards-Helaire for a gain of 7, and Edwards-Helaire managed to pick up the few yards needed to extend the drive. Mahomes scrambled for a gain of 9 before throwing two passes that essentially did nothing for the offense and settling for another field goal, extending the Chiefs lead to 6 points.

                The very next drive Goff was able to lead the Lions down the field for the go-ahead touchdown. Goff was able to find Josh Reynolds for an 18-yard gain, and then 3 plays later he was able to find Reynolds again for a 33-yard gain. This set up Montgomery to punch it in from 8 yards out so the Lions could take the lead at 21-20 with just over 7 minutes left on the clock.

                The Chiefs had 2 more chances in the 4^th quarter to tie the game up or take the lead. It was very evident on the last two offensive drives of the game how much not having Kelce was hurting the Chief’s offense. It was an offense of holding call on Smith and a false start penalty on Taylor that ultimately sealed the deal for the Detroit Lions.

Recap: The Lions look like the real deal in week 1. I know a lot of fans are going to put an asterisk on this game because the Chiefs were without Travis Kelce, however, the Lions played well on both sides of the football while discovering how dynamic Montgomery and Gibbs will be as a running back tangent this year. I will keep an eye out for Gibbs to steal playing time from Montgomery as the year goes on as he recorded 42 yards on just 7 carries for a whopping 6 yards per carry, while adding 18 yards through the air on 2 catches in his first NFL game. The Chief’s defense missed Chris Jones and it showed throughout the game but most importantly in the 2nd half of the game as Goff was able to stand in the pocket and deliver the ball to his receiver with little pressure from the Chiefs front 7.

Detroit Lions: 1-0                                                                                              Kansas City Chiefs: 0-1