KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs started slowly on Monday, which should have been expected. Their opponent was the New England Patriots.
The Chiefs came alive in the second half, as they usually do against the Patriots. Mahomes threw two touchdown passes, and the Chiefs ran their record to 4-0 by winning 26-10.
The Chiefs are the first team in NFL history to start four straight seasons 4-0 or better. They’ve had a winning streak of at least four games in every one of coach Andy Reid’s eight seasons.
The Chiefs didn’t score their first touchdown Monday until late in the third quarter. The game was only the third with Mahomes as the starter in which the Chiefs didn’t score a touchdown on any of their first four possessions.
The other two such games came against the Patriots. In each of those games, the Chiefs scored 31 points in the second half.
The Chiefs scored 20 this time with the help of a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown by Tyrann Mathieu.
Stout in the red zone: Two of the biggest plays of the game came with New England inside the Chiefs’ 20. The Chiefs ended each drive with a sack. The first came late in the first half, when Frank Clark dragged down Brian Hoyer for a 13-yard loss from the Chiefs’ 13. The Patriots were out of timeouts, and the play ended the half. In the third quarter, Taco Charlton sacked Hoyer at the Chiefs’ 10 and forced a fumble. The Chiefs recovered.
Chris Jones did not play: The Chiefs played without defensive tackle Chris Jones, their leading pass-rusher. He was listed as questionable for the game because of a groin injury. Jones led the Chiefs coming into the game with 3.5 sacks.
Another shaky day for Butker: Kicker Harrison Butker missed an extra point attempt for the second straight game. He made both of his field goal attempts. Butker missed a 42-yard try last week.