The Kansas City Chiefs improved to 13-1 on the season thanks to an outstanding defensive performance to defeat the Cleveland Browns 21-7 on Sunday afternoon. The Chiefs forced six turnovers and sacked quarterback Jameis Winston five times to smother the Browns offense through four quarters.
The Chiefs continued to struggle moving the ball offensively, 7/18 on third-down, but still found the endzone three times. Patrick Mahomes exited the game early with a presumed high-ankle sprain late in the fourth quarter. The team’s medical staff will evaluate the injury further as the week goes on.
Mahomes finished 19/38 for 159 yards and two touchdowns. His top targets were Xavier Worthy, who had six catches for 46 yards. DeAndre Hopkins had five receptions for 36 yards, and Travis Kelce finished with four grabs for 27 yards.
On the ground, Kareem Hunt had a decent day against his former team with 13 rushing attempts for 45 yards and Isiah Pacheco had 13 carries for 32 yards.
On defense, Kansas City, who isn’t known for taking the ball away, recorded four interceptions and two fumble recoveries. The Chiefs’ pass rush also got home on the quarterback, sacking Browns signal-caller Jameis Winston five times.
Cleveland’s nimiety of turnovers began in the first quarter. Wide receiver James Proche II muffed a 38-yard punt from Matt Araiza. Kansas City recovered the fumble and took over at the Browns’ 21-yard line. After a six-yard run by Pacheco, and an eight-yard reception from Mahomes to Kelce, Mahomes threw another short pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster, who drove for the front-right pylon for the touchdown.
Three possessions later with 1:44 in the first quarter, Winston fired off a 36-yard pass for receiver Elijah Moore in the end zone, that got intercepted by defensive back Bryan Cook. The play resulted in a touchback, placing Kansas City at their 25-yard line. The Chiefs were forced to punt four plays later.
The Chiefs extended their lead by two touchdowns on their second possession in the second quarter. After forcing the Browns to go three-and-out at the 11:49 mark, Kansas City took over at their 13-yard line following a 48-yard punt by Corey Bojorquez.
Kansas City converted on third down only once during the 15-play, 87-yard drive as Mahomes dinked and dunked down the field before finding a wide-open Noah Gray for a six-yard touchdown. Kansas City went into the locker room with a 14-0 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, Cleveland got the ball to begin the second half. On the first play of the drive, Winston threw over the middle to running back Nick Chubb, but the ball slipped through his arms and was intercepted by linebacker Nick Bolton, as he was making a tackle. The pick was Winston’s second interception of the game.
Kansas City set up on the Cleveland 34-yard line after the takeaway. After two short plays, a four-yard run by Hunt converted on 3rd and 1 to keep the chains moving. On the next play, Mahomes checks down to Worthy, who flies up the sideline for a 21-yard touchdown.
Down 21-0, Cleveland’s ensuing drive ended with more misfortune on the opening play. On a handoff up the middle with Nick Chubb, linebacker Leo Chenal punched the ball out of his arms to force a fumble. Kansas City repossessed the ball after Drue Tranquill made the recovery. Unfortunately, the Chiefs offense was forced to punt after three plays.
Cleveland finally got on the board late in the third quarter. After a 13-yard sack by Thershawn Wharton, Winston handed the ball off to running back Jerome Ford, who showed off his blazing speed for a 64-yard rushing touchdown.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Cleveland began the period with the ball at their 33-yard line. Winston hooked up with Ford for a 26-yard completion to cross over to the Chiefs’ side of the field at the 41. Three plays later, Winston’s deep pass attempt for Michael Woods II was intercepted by cornerback Trent McDuffie at the 29-yard line.
Two possessions and a quarterback change later, Cleveland suffered its sixth turnover of the game when backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson slung a pass right to defensive back Jaden Hicks for Kansas City’s fourth interception. The pick sealed the game as the Chiefs ran the time remaining to cement a 21-7 victory.
