Mahomes throws 5 TD passes as Chiefs romp past Jets, 35-9
KANSAS CITY, MO. (AP) » Patrick Mahomes did just about everything for the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
He even toted Tyreek Hill back to the sideline after a touchdown catch.
In near-flawless execution of coach Andy Reid’s run-pass option attack, the reigning Super Bowl MVP threw for 416 yards and five touchdowns, leading the AFCWest-leading Chiefs to a 35-9 romp over the winless New York Jets.
“I mean, it’s always fun to go out and score touchdowns and do all that type of stuff,” Mahomes said, “but we’ve been saying it all year long, we have a lot of ways to beat teams. Today, they did a good job of stuffing up the run. We took it to the air and threwthe ball and did it that way. It’s about taking what’s there and finding ways to win.”
Hill wound up with two of the touchdown catches. On the first, he celebrated by jumping into the stands and tossing the football to a fan, andMahomeswas there to help him back onto the field. On the second, Mahomes claimed to see Hill “a little banged up” and decided to carry him — horseand-jockey style — back to the Kansas City sideline.
“Just having a little bit of fun,” Mahomes said with a wry smile.
Travis Kelce added 109 yards receiving and a touchdown, Me
cole Hardman and Demarcus Robinson also scored, helping the Chiefs (7-1) give Andy Reid his 229th win to move into a tie with Curly Lambeau for the fifth most in NFL history.
Le’Veon Bell, getting a crack at the Jets just a few weeks after they released him, was held to just 7 yards rushing with three catches for another 31 yards — though it wasn’t as if Kansas City needed him.
Darnold, who was without top receivers Jamison Crowder and Breshad Perriman because of injuries, was just 18 of 30 for 133 yards as the Jets fell to 0-8 for the first time since the 1996 team of Rich Kotite.
“It’s obviously not where we wanted to be,” said Jets coach Adam Gase, whose team went three- and- out on five of its first six second-half possessions and finished with 221 yards total offense. “I’m just like everybody else from the aspect of, I’mdoing this job to win, not to go out there and get my face stomped in.”
The Chiefswere astounding 19-point favorites coming into the game, and the opening series made it clear that wouldn’t be nearly enough. Mahomes was 5 of 5 for 85 yards, and he finished off the 90-yard drivewith a 30-yard pass to Hardman.
While the Jets answered with the first of three firsthalf field goals, the Chiefs kept scoring touchdowns.
Mahomes threw a dart over the middle to Hill for a 36-yard touchdown on their next drive, then he flipped a nifty pass underneath the Jets coverage to Kelce for his third TD pass of the half and a 21-9 lead at the break.