Last-minute TD carries K.C. past Detroit
Patrick Mahomes made more plays than usual with his legs because the Detroit Lions set up their defense to limit what the star quarterback could do with his arm.
Mahomes converted a fourth down with a run to extend a game-winning drive that ended with Darrel Williams’ 1-yard touchdown run with 23 seconds left for his second score in the fourth quarter, lifting the Kansas City Chiefs to a 34-30 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday in Detroit.
“With what they were doing, there were lanes to run,” Mahomes said. “I saw a lane and I took it.”
The reigning MVP had thrown at least two touchdown passes in 14 straight games, one short of the NFL record set by Peyton Manning. And, he was the first player in league history to have at least 350 yards passing and three touchdowns without an interception in three straight games before getting slowed down in Detroit.
“They found a way to take away some of the stuff that we like to do,” said Mahomes, who was 24 of 42 for 315 yards. “They hadn’t lost a game for a reason.”
Kansas City (4-0) stayed undefeated after starting its winning drive on the 21 with 2:25 left. Facing fourth-and-8 from the Chiefs’ 34, Mahomes dropped back briefly before busting through a hole up the middle for 15 yards.
“When they start doubling people, there are going to be some lanes and he knew that,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said.
BROWNS 40, RAVENS 25 >> Baker Mayfield threw for 342 yards and a touchdown, Nick Chubb ran for a pivotal 88-yard score and Cleveland earned a share of first place in the AFC North with a victory in Baltimore. Chubb finished with 165 yards and three scores against the league’s third-ranked rushing defense. Jarvis Landry had eight catches for 167 yards before leaving with a suspected concussion. BUCCANEERS 55, RAMS 40 >> Jameis Winston passed for 385 yards and threw two of his four touchdown passes to Chris Godwin, and Ndamukong Suh returned Jared Goff’s fumble 37 yards for a touchdown with 1:06 to play in visiting Tampa Bay’s victory over previously unbeaten Los Angeles. Godwin had career highs of 12 catches for 172 yards as the Buccaneers jumped to an early 21-0 lead and then scored 24 points in a wild fourth quarter to complete the highest-scoring game in the franchise’s 44-year history. The Bucs still barely held off the Rams, but Suh’s TD return against his old teammates capped an impressive win for first-year coach Bruce Arians. BEARS 16, VIKINGS 6>> Chase Daniel threw for 195 yards and a touchdown after Mitchell Trubisky got knocked out of the game with a left shoulder injury on the opening possession, and host Chicago swarmed NFL rushing leader Dalvin Cook all game. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 draft, Trubisky was scrambling when Danielle Hunter dragged him down. The quarterback’s non-throwing arm got pinned awkwardly under his body. Daniel came on and connected with Tarik Cohen on a 10-yard touchdown to complete a 14-play drive. The 10th-year pro completed 22 of 30 passes. GIANTS 24, WASHINGTON 3 >> Daniel Jones worked his magic again, Saquon Barkley’s replacement Wayne Gallman scored two touchdowns, and Jabrill Peppers scored on a 32-yard interception return for host New York. Washington’s 0-4 start is its worst since losing its first five in 2001. The start also has seriously put coach Jay Gruden’s job in jeopardy after five-plus seasons, a 3549-1 record and one playoff berth (2015).
PANTHERS 16, TEXANS 10 >> Kyle Allen threw for 232 yards and Carolina overcame his three fumbles in Houston. The Panthers took a 13-10 lead with a 55yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. The Texans were driving with about 4 minutes left when Deshaun Watson was sacked by Vernon Butler, who caused a fumble recovered by Eric Reid at the Houston 33. TITANS 24, FALCONS 10 >> Marcus Mariota threw three first-half TD passes, two to A.J. Brown, and Tennessee’s defense had three fourth-down stops in Atlanta. Derrick Henry ran for 100 yards for Tennessee. SEAHAWKS 27, CARDINALS 10 >> Russell Wilson threw for 240 yards a touchdown, and Jadeveon Clowney returned an interception for a score for visiting Seattle. JAGUARS 26, BRONCOS 24>> Leonard Fournette ran for a career-high 225 yards and Josh Lambo kicked a 33yard field goal as time expired, lifting visiting Jacksonville.
CHARGERS 30, DOLPHINS 10 >> Philip Rivers threw for 310 yards and two scores to help the Chargers win in Miami for the first time in 38 years. Rivers directed a 10½-minute drive in the third quarter that helped Los Angeles take control.