The Kansas City Chiefs continued their surging momentum with an emphatic 28-7 victory over the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football at Arrowhead Stadium. After a slow start that saw Patrick Mahomes throw two early interceptions, the Chiefs locked in and put on a dominant second-half performance that left no doubt about the outcome.
First Half Struggles Give Way to Second Half Dominance
The game started as a defensive slugfest, with both teams struggling to find offensive rhythm in the opening quarter. Mahomes, who had thrown just two interceptions all season entering the game, threw two picks on the Chiefs’ first two drives. The first came when a pass bounced off Deebo Samuel’s hands and into the arms of a Chiefs defender, while the second was deflected off Travis Kelce’s hands.
Despite the early turnovers, the Chiefs’ defense kept Washington off the scoreboard. Kansas City benefited from playing against backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, as reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels remained sidelined with a hamstring injury.
The scoring finally opened up late in the second quarter when Kareem Hunt powered into the end zone from one yard out, giving the Chiefs a 7-0 lead with 5:46 remaining in the half. Washington responded immediately, with Mariota connecting with Terry McLaurin on an 11-yard touchdown pass where McLaurin impressively kept both feet inbounds before stepping out. The teams went into halftime tied 7-7.
Chiefs Offense Explodes After Intermission
The second half belonged entirely to Kansas City. The Chiefs scored touchdowns on their first three drives out of the locker room, turning a competitive game into a rout.
Hunt opened the third quarter scoring with a two-yard touchdown reception from Mahomes on fourth down, giving Kansas City a 14-7 lead. The Chiefs extended their advantage to 21-7 when Mahomes found Kelce for a 10-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter. The scoring strike was historic, as it marked Kelce’s 83rd career regular season touchdown, tying him with Priest Holmes for the most in Chiefs franchise history. It was also Kelce’s 100th career touchdown reception including playoffs, making him just the fourth tight end in NFL history to reach that milestone.
The final dagger came in the fourth quarter when Mahomes capped off a 94-yard drive by connecting with Rashee Rice for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 28-7. Rice was spectacular in his second game back from suspension, hauling in nine receptions on nine targets for 93 yards and a touchdown while adding two carries for 12 yards.
Mahomes Overcomes Early Mistakes
Despite the rocky start, Mahomes finished with an impressive stat line: 25 completions on 34 attempts for 299 yards and three touchdowns to go with the two early interceptions. It marked the fourth time in the last five games that Mahomes threw at least three touchdown passes, a feat he hadn’t accomplished since opening the 2021 season with four consecutive three-touchdown performances.
The three-time Super Bowl champion now sits as the betting favorite to win his third NFL MVP award, roughly halfway through the 2025 season. His ability to shake off the early mistakes and dominate the second half exemplified the veteran leadership that has made him one of the game’s elite quarterbacks.
Defense Steps Up When Needed
While the offense grabbed headlines, the Chiefs’ defense continued its stellar recent play. Kansas City held Washington to just seven points and 236 total yards while forcing two interceptions and coming up with crucial stops on fourth down. The defensive unit has now allowed just 14 points over the last 10 quarters—a fourth-quarter touchdown against Detroit in Week 6 and the second-quarter score against Washington sandwiched around a shutout win versus Las Vegas.
Mariota completed 21 of 30 passes for 213 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions for the Commanders. McLaurin led Washington’s receivers with 54 yards on three catches before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with the quad injury that had sidelined him the previous four weeks.
Rice Proves to be the Missing Piece
The return of Rashee Rice has transformed the Chiefs’ offense over the past two weeks. His nine receptions against Washington showcased the confidence Mahomes has in his young receiver. One play in particular stood out—with Washington showing blitz, Mahomes checked to an audible called “Dart,” the same play he used in Super Bowl LVIII against San Francisco. Two plays later, Mahomes found Kelce for the touchdown that put the game away.
Through two games since returning from suspension, Rice has recorded 16 receptions for 132 yards and three touchdowns. His presence has unlocked the explosiveness that was missing from Kansas City’s offense early in the season.
Hot Streak Continues
The victory marked the Chiefs’ fifth win in their last six games, improving their record to 5-3 on the season. After an 0-2 start, Kansas City has roared back into playoff contention and now sits just one game behind the 6-2 Denver Broncos in the AFC West standings.
Kansas City extended its dominance over Washington to nine consecutive wins in the series and 11 of the last 12 meetings overall. The Chiefs haven’t lost to Washington since September 18, 1983.
The convincing victory sets up a massive Week 9 showdown as the Chiefs travel to Buffalo to face Josh Allen and the 5-2 Bills in what could be a preview of the AFC Championship Game. With the offense firing on all cylinders and the defense playing its best football of the season, the Chiefs look like a team hitting their stride at exactly the right time.