Chiefs win 21-7 vs. Browns -- with a Patrick Mahomes injury
Published in Football
CLEVELAND — The Kansas City Chiefs finally found a way to win a game by more than one possession.
Forcing six turnovers, on this day, was the formula.
Kansas City’s defense dominated on a windy afternoon at Huntington Bank Field, putting together its best effort of the season in a 21-7 road victory over the Cleveland Browns.
After the game, however, Patrick Mahomes’ health will be the biggest concern. The Chiefs QB injured his right ankle late in the fourth quarter when Browns defenders sandwiched him on a fourth-and-3 pass play.
Mahomes had his ankle taped on the sideline but did not re-enter the game on the Chiefs’ next possession. The Chiefs’ official injury status on Mahomes was questionable with his ankle ailment.
The Chiefs’ defense added five sacks — with two coming from George Karlaftis — while also aided in the fourth quarter by All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie’s first career interception.
Kansas City also had three other picks — by Bryan Cook, Nick Bolton and Jaden Hicks — and recovered a pair of fumbles.
This was a significant result for the Chiefs, who improved to 13-1 while remaining in sole possession of first place in the race for the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
The Chiefs led 14-0 at halftime in a game where the weather impacted both offenses.
A constant 18 mph wind — with gusts in the 30s — made all passes more challenging.
Cleveland still basically handed Kansas City a touchdown early; punt returner James Proche fumbled while getting tackled by Chris Roland-Wallace, with the Chiefs’ Samaje Perine falling on it at the Browns 21.
Three plays later, Mahomes found JuJu Smith-Schuster across the formation for a seven-yard score, giving Kansas City the early lead.
The Chiefs’ defense held its ground the rest of the half.
That included a standout play from Cook, who two-handed a high-point interception in the end zone to turn back a first-quarter drive.
The Browns had just 74 first-half yards while averaging 2.8 yards per play.
Kansas City’s offense struggled overall before maintaining an extended second-quarter drive, going 87 yards on 14 plays. Mahomes’ TD pass went to tight end Noah Gray for six yards, as the Chiefs opened a two-score, first-half lead for a third straight game.
Mahomes’ stats were limited even before his injury; he completed 19 of 38 passes for 159 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
In the return to his hometown, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce had four catches for 27 yards.
The Chiefs will play at home against the Houston Texans at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 21.
____
©2024 The Kansas City Star. Visit at kansascity.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Comments