The Chiefs defeated the Washington Commanders 28-7 on “Monday Night Football” at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, recording their third straight win and fifth in six games.
It took a half but once the Chiefs got rolling they didn’t stop, pulling away from a 7-7 halftime score. The offense rolled again, scoring at least 28 points for the fifth straight game.
KC STAR OF THE GAME
Defensive end Mike Danna recorded the first interception of his six-year NFL career in the first quarter, and on the final play of the third quarter he recorded his first sack of the season. A huge evening for Danna, who entered the game having played 26% of the Chiefs’ defensive snaps.
Next: On a short week, the Chiefs will visit the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in a rematch of last season’s AFC Championship Game.
Kickoff is 3:25 p.m. Central Time. The game will be televised by CBS (Channel 5 in Kansas City).
REPORT CARD
Passing offense: B
Nice comeback from Patrick Mahomes and the passing game after interceptions ended two first-half drives. He responded with three touchdowns.
Mahomes found Hunt slipping open in the end zone on a fourth-and-2 one the first touchdown pass, and hit Travis Kelce from 10 yards for his second. Rashee Rice’s double move got him open on an 18-yard score. Three second-half possessions, three Mahomes touchdown passes.
On the picks, credit Marshon Lattimore for an excellent play when he stepped in front of a back-shoulder throw to KC receiver Hollywood Brown for an interception to end the Chiefs’ first possession.
The second one was on Kelce, as the ball hit his hands and Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner was there for the pick.
Just an awful start for Mahomes and the passing offense.
Rushing offense: B
Kareem Hunt in short yardage is money.
He powered for first downs in a pair of short situations in the first half and also caught the short touchdown pass. Hunt and Isiah Pacheco each averaged more than 4 yards per carry and combined for 98 yards.
How about the direct snap to Rice from the 8? Touchdown was called. But replay showed him down at the 1.
Pacheco caught a helmet in the knee late in the game and did not return.
Passing defense: B
Danna’s interception wasn’t just the first of his six-year NFL career, but his first takeaway. He alertly snagged the ball after it deflected off Deebo Samuel’s helmet.
The Chiefs also played solid defense another change of possession, when Marcus Mariota overthrew his receiver deep on fourth-and-1.
On his 800th career reception, Commanders tight end Zach Ertz was stopped a half-yard short of a first down by cornerback Jaylen Watson on fourth and 5.
The second half was all Chiefs, including Jack Cochrane’s interception to end Washington’s final drive.
Rushing defense: A
The Commanders hung around for a half behind Mariota — the QB got it done, more or less, both passing and running. He finished with a team-high 28 rushing yards.
But as the Chiefs’ lead swelled in the second half, Washington abandoned the run. The 56 yards on the ground by the Chiefs is the fewest they’ve allowed this season.
Special teams: B
The Chiefs cashed in on a near-perfect kickoff, when Harrison Butker’s boot was muffed by Jaylin Lane and rolled out of bounds at the 2. The Commanders punted it away and the Chiefs scored on their next possession.
Just when the Chiefs didn’t need a penalty, Cochrane was flagged for holding on the kickoff return after Washington’s first touchdown. That meant the Chiefs had to start their last-gasp drive from the 12 instead of the 27. Jeffrey Bassa was penalized twice on returns.