The Kansas City Chiefs received a surprise on Sunday night in the Meadowlands at MetLife Stadium in the form of exceptional play from the New York Jets. In a game that had the Chiefs heavily favored to impose their will on New York, Gang Green had other plans and entered a primetime fistfight with the reigning Super Bowl champs.
Luckily, head coach Andy Reid dialed up a clever string of plays that kept Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense on the field for the remaining 7:24 in the fourth quarter to slip away with a 23-20 victory to improve to 3-1 on the season. Reid tied HOF coach Tom Landry with 250 regular season wins by defeating the Jets. Mahomes also found his way back into the record books by passing HOF quarterback Dan Marino as the fastest QB to throw 200 career touchdown passes (84 games).
Other than that, Mahomes had an off night, finishing 18 of 30 for 230 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Kansas City resorted to the running game to help relieve the woes in the passing game as Isiah Pacheco finished with a big night that consisted of 20 carries for 115 yards and a score. Mahomes also rushed for 51 yards on seven scramble attempts.
Many expected Jets quarterback Zach Wilson to continue on his downward trajectory, but instead, he showed why the Jets initially drafted the second-year QB second-overall in 2021. The second-year passer finished 28 of 39 for 245 yards and two touchdown passes.
After Kansas City jumped out to an early 17-0 lead in the first quarter, the Jets scored 12 unanswered points to go into the locker room down 20-12 at halftime. In the third quarter, New York’s opening drive ended with a ten-yard pass from Wilson to wide receiver Allen Lazard to tie the game up at 20.
However, the Chiefs capped off a 15-play drive in the fourth quarter with a 26-yard field goal by Harrison Butker to re-take the lead. On New York’s ensuing possession, Wilson fumbled the snap at his own 46-yard line, and Kansas City’s Tershawn Wharton immediately recovered the ball.
Four yards from midfield, Mahomes methodically moves his offense down the field in 18 plays to take the remaining 7:24 off the clock to seal the victory.
