Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes are stunned by Lions! Super Bowl MVP tosses pick-6 and fizzles down the stretch in NFL 2023 season opener as Kansas City’s title defense gets off to dreary start against Jared Goff & Co.
- Mahomes completed only 21 of 39 passes on Thursday for 226 yards and two TDs
- Lions rookie safety Brian Branch returned an interception for his first NFL TD
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Patrick Mahomes had an interception returned for a touchdown and fizzled down the stretch against the hungry, young Detroit Lions as the defending-champion Chiefs dropped the 2023 season opener, 21-20, on Thursday night in Kansas City.
Mahomes & Co. fell behind early on Thursday at Arrowhead Stadium after Detroit’s Jared Goff found impressive second-year receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for the first touchdown of the 2023 season.
But the defending champs came storming back in the second quarter as Mahomes connected on a pair of touchdown passes to Rashee Rice and Blake Bell.
Then it was rookie safety Brian Branch’s turn to introduce himself to the NFL with a pick-six, returning the Mahomes offering 50 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 14-14 early in the third quarter.
After a pair of Harrison Butker filed goals pushed Kansas City ahead 20-14, Detroit running back David Montgomery tied the game with an eight-yard touchdown run. Riley Patterson added the extra point for a 21-20 edge.
More to follow…
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes looks to throw during the first half
Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions passes in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs