The Kansas City Chiefs topped the Los Angeles Chargers, 31-17, to win their sixth-consecutive game on Sunday afternoon.
Here are some quick notes from the victory.
1. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes had a game to remember.
Mahomes completed 32-of-42 passes for 424 yards and four touchdowns on Sunday, marking season-bests in both categories. It was Mahomes' fifth-career game with 400+ passing yards and 4+ passing touchdowns, matching Drew Brees for the third-most by any player in NFL history. Only Peyton Manning (8 games) and Dan Marino (7 games) own more.
Remarkably, 321 of those passing yards took place in the first half of Sunday's game, marking the second-most by a player in Chiefs' history behind only Mahomes' 359 first-half passing yards vs. Tampa Bay in 2020.
Through seven games, Mahomes currently leads the NFL in completions (185) and passing touchdowns (15) while ranking second in passing yards (2,017) and fourth in passer rating (101.0).
Overall, the Chiefs' 483 yards of total offense were their most of the season.
2. The Chiefs' defense didn't allow a single point in the second half.
The Chargers' offense took the field for five possessions in the second half, and on those drives, the Chiefs' defense forced three "three-and-outs" (all of which resulted in punts) and two interceptions. In fact, the Chargers tallied only 125 yards in the second half after tallying 233 through the first two quarters.
Kansas City remains the only team in the NFL to allow no more than 21 points in a single game this season.
3. Tight end Travis Kelce tallied the second-most single-game receiving yards of his career.
Mahomes' favorite target throughout Sunday's game was Kelce, who matched a career-best with 12 catches for 179 yards – his second-most in a single game behind only a 191-yard performance (fittingly, against the Chargers) in 2021. Specifically, 143 of those yards took place in the first half, marking the fourth-most by a player in franchise history.
Nine of Kelce's 12 catches picked up a first down, including three grabs that moved the chains on third down. Kelce also found the end zone for the fourth time this season with a 1-yard scoring grab.
4. Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling had his top game of the season thus far.
Valdes-Scantling hauled in three catches for 84 yards and a touchdown on Sunday, including a 46-yard scoring grab on the Chiefs' second possession. It was Mahomes' longest touchdown pass of the season, and Valdes-Scantling's longest in a Chiefs' uniform.
The veteran receiver's 35 yards after the catch on Sunday were also his most since joining Kansas City prior to last season.
5. Rookie Rashee Rice found the end zone once again.
Rice caught five passes for 60 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's victory, recording his second-straight game with 60+ yards through the air. The score was Rice's third of the season – tied for the second-most among all rookies – and keep in mind, Rice was tackled at the 1-yard line twice in Week 3 vs. Chicago.
According to Pro Football Focus' metrics, Rice remains the No. 2 rookie wide receiver in the NFL among players to receive 15+ targets.
6. Defensive lineman Charles Omenihu had a tremendous Chiefs' debut.
Omenihu made an impact right away on Sunday, recording four pressures, a sack and a pass defensed that resulted in an interception by cornerback L'Jarius Sneed.
Omenihu, who played 51 percent of the Chiefs' defensive snaps, was part of a pass-rush that pressured Chargers' quarterback Justin Herbert on 41 percent of his dropbacks. Defensive lineman Chris Jones (7) and defensive end George Karlaftis (6) led the way in pressures while defensive end Mike Danna (1 sack), linebacker Drue Tranquill (1 sack) and linebacker Willie Gay (1 sack) joined Omenihu and Karlaftis with individual sacks.
7. Wide receiver Mecole Hardman made his return to Kansas City a special one.
Hardman – who arrived in Kansas City only four days prior – made one of the plays of the game on Sunday when he recorded a 50-yard punt return on Kansas City's final offensive possession. The return set the Chiefs up with excellent field position as they sought to build a two-score lead, and just a few snaps later, Hardman hauled in a 6-yard pass that moved the chains on third down.
Hardman's efforts directly led to the game-sealing touchdown that took place moments after his third-down grab.
8. Tailback Isiah Pacheco iced the game with an 8-yard touchdown reception.
Pacheco was the recipient of Patrick Mahomes' fourth touchdown pass of the day when he caught an 8-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter. It was the first receiving touchdown of Pacheco's young career.
The touchdown provided Kansas City with a two-score lead and effectively put the game away.
9. Kicker Harrison Butker remained perfect on the season.
Butker is 15-of-15 on field goals and 19-for-19 on extra points this season, connecting on all 34 of his kicks for the year. The veteran kicker successfully converted a 35-yard field goal on Sunday in addition to four extra points.
Among kickers to attempt at least 15 field goals, Butker is one of only three kickers to remain perfect on the season, joining the Dallas Cowboys' Brandon Aubrey (16-for-16) and the Tennessee Titans' Nick Folk (16-for-16).
10. The Chiefs continued their dominance over the AFC West.
Kansas City has now won 13 consecutive games against AFC West opponents dating back to the 2021 season. Additionally, since 2015, the Chiefs are now 44-6 vs. division rivals. That figure is by far the best mark for any team against their own division in that span, leading the next-closest team (New England vs. the AFC East) by nine victories.
Patrick Mahomes, in particular, moved to 29-3 against the AFC West as a starter with Sunday's victory. Mahomes lost to the Chargers in 2018 (by 1 point), the Raiders in 2020 (by 8 points) and the Chargers in 2021 (by six points). Mahomes has won all 29 other divisional matchups during his brilliant career.
Mahomes and the Chiefs will aim to add to those numbers this upcoming Sunday as the Chiefs travel to Denver to take on the Broncos.
