The Kansas City Chiefs came back to win another close one on Sunday, overcoming an eight-point deficit to defeat the Tennessee Titans, 20-17, in overtime.
Here are some quick notes and facts about the game.
1. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes made plays when it mattered most.
Mahomes completed 43-of-68 passes for 446 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the game, marking the third-most passing attempts for any quarterback in a single game in NFL history. Only Drew Bledsoe (70 in 1994) and Vinny Testaverde (69 in 2000) attempted more passes in a single game in league history. Additionally, Mahomes' 43 completions were the most in a game in team history, passing the previous record that was held by Elvis Grbac (39 in 2000).
He also accounted for 485 yards of total offense (446 yards passing, 63 yards rushing, and 24 yards lost on sacks) on Sunday, marking the most for any player in a single game this season. In fact, Mahomes is the first player in the Super Bowl Era to tally 400+ passing yards, 60+ rushing yards and both a passing and rushing touchdown in one game.
What was most impressive, however, was when Mahomes amassed many of those stats. The Chiefs' offense struggled through most of the game, but when it mattered most, Mahomes led Kansas City on a 13-play, 93-yard drive that ended with him scrambling for a 14-yard touchdown. Mahomes was then at it again a few moments later, rushing for the two-point conversion to tie the game.
The drive, which resulted in the Chiefs' first points since early in the second quarter, also included a 20-yard scramble by Mahomes that moved the chains on third-and-17. It was the second time this season that Kansas City converted a third down of that length or longer, making them the only team in the NFL to do so multiple times this year.
In total, Mahomes accounted for every yard on that critical, game-tying series. He also came up clutch in overtime, too, leading a 13-play, 64-yard drive that set up kicker Harrison Butker's 28-yard, go-ahead field goal.
Overall, Mahomes currently leads the NFL in passing yards (2,605) and passing touchdowns (21).
2. Tight end Travis Kelce put together a gritty performance.
Kelce caught 10 passes for a team-most 106 yards on Sunday, marking the 32nd 100-yard performance of his brilliant career and matching Rob Gronkowski for the most such games by a tight end in NFL history. Additionally, Kelce's 30 100-yard games since 2016 are the third-most among all players, trailing only Davante Adams (34) and Julio Jones (31).
It was an impressive performance for Kelce despite a Titans' defensive game plan that was clearly focused on being as physical as possible with the All-Pro tight end.
Kelce also now has at least 50 receptions in nine consecutive seasons, which is the longest active streak in the NFL. Only Tony Gonzalez, who amassed a streak of 11 straight seasons from 1998-2008, owns a longer stretch in franchise history.
3. Wide receiver Mecole Hardman found the end zone for the third-straight game.
Hardman caught a 7-yard touchdown pass on the Chiefs' second possession to continue what has been a strong stretch of games for the veteran wide receiver. He now has five total touchdowns (three receiving, two rushing) in his last three games while averaging 60 yards from scrimmage in those contests.
Hardman's six total touchdowns this season match his career-best (6 in 2019).
4. Tight end Noah Gray came up with the biggest play of his young career.
Gray hauled in a tremendous, 27-yard catch on third down during the Chiefs' go-ahead drive in overtime that constituted one of the biggest plays of the night. If Gray didn't come down with the catch, the Chiefs would have been faced with 4th-and-1 at midfield, and a tough decision to make. Gray's catch erased any need for that conversation.
It was by far the longest play of Gray's young career.
5. In total, 11 different players caught a pass for the Chiefs on Sunday.
Mahomes found 11 pass-catchers for completions in Sunday's game: Travis Kelce 10 times, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster 10 times, Mecole Hardman six times, tailback Jerick McKinnon six times, Noah Gray three times, wide receiver Justin Watson twice, wide receiver Kadarius Toney twice, tailback Clyde Edwards-Helaire once, wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling once, tailback Isiah Pacheco once and fullback Michael Burton once.
That tally matched Buffalo (who did so in Week 3) for the most players to catch a pass in a single game this season. That group combined to help Kansas City pile up 499 net yards of offense and 29 first downs.
6. The Chiefs' defense kept Kansas City in the game when the offense was struggling.
Despite all of that offensive yardage, however, the Chiefs struggled to find the end zone following their fast start. Kansas City racked up 148 yards and nine points through its first two drives, but after that, the Chiefs proceeded to come up empty on each of their next seven possessions.
Another Tennessee score during that stretch may have put the game out of reach, but the Chiefs' defense made sure that didn't happen. In fact, following the Titans' back-to-back touchdown drives early in the game, Tennessee went on to record a grand total of one first down over its next nine drives.
That defensive effort included stopping All-Pro tailback Derrick Henry, who – despite a pair of big runs early in the game – was held to just 23 rushing yards on eight carries in the second half.
The Chiefs' offense eventually came through in the end, but it was the defense that repeatedly kept that window of opportunity alive.
7. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap is on the doorstep of a major personal milestone.
One of the guys behind that strong defensive performance was Dunlap, who recorded four pressures and 1.5 sacks in the game. He couldn't have picked better times for those sacks, either. The first took place on third down immediately after the Chiefs tied the game, and the half sack – which he shared with defensive lineman Chris Jones – was on third down during the Titans' lone overtime possession.
Dunlap now has 99.5 sacks and is just one big play from surpassing the triple-digit mark for his career. In addition to Dunlap and Jones, defensive tackle Khalen Saunders also recorded a sack on Sunday night.
8. The Chiefs continue to be the comeback kids.
Kansas City is never out of the game, no matter the score, and the proof is in the numbers. The Chiefs have now won four games this season in which they've trailed at some point, overcoming deficits of 17 points (Las Vegas), 10 points (Los Angeles and San Francisco) and eight points (Tennessee). According to CBS Sports' Jeff Kerr, Kansas City is the first team to amass four or more comeback wins of 8+ points through the first eight weeks of the season since at least 2000.
9. Two players made their highly-anticipated home debuts.
A pair of players, cornerback Trent McDuffie and wide receiver Kadarius Toney, each took the field at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium for the first time as Chiefs on Sunday night.
McDuffie, who missed the last six games due to a hamstring injury, played 49 snaps and didn't allow a single reception in his coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. Toney, meanwhile, tallied nine snaps in his first game with Kansas City. He caught two passes for 12 yards.
10. Head Coach Andy Reid continued his unprecedented brilliance following bye weeks.
The legend that is Coach Reid immediately after the bye continues to grow, as he is now 21-3 in his career when given an extra week to prepare during the regular season. That includes an 8-2 mark with the Chiefs, and while it wasn't always pretty on Sunday, it was the kind of game that great teams find a way to win.
The Chiefs will now turn their attention to a showdown with the Jacksonville Jaguars this upcoming Sunday at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
