Chiefs Plow Through Snow, Broncos in 23-3 Victory

Patrick Mahomes throws for 340 yards, two scores, while Travis Kelce eclipses 1,000 yards receiving for the fourth-straight season

© Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes showed no ill effects from a bruised right hand, passing for more than 300 yards with help from tight end Travis Kelce, as the Chiefs cruised past the Broncos 23-3 in a snowstorm at Arrowhead Stadium.

Reid said the conditions nor the injury Mahomes suffered last week against New England affected his quarterback Sunday.

“I thought he threw it around real well and spun it,” Reid said. “I thought all in all he had a great day. It was a pretty phenomenal day.”

Mahomes finished the game 27-of-34 passing for 340 yards, two touchdowns an interception. Kelce became the first tight end in league history to collect more than 1,000 yards receiving in four-straight seasons. The Broncos never found a solution for breaking up the Mahomes-Kelce duo, with the tight end hauling in 11 catches on 13 targets for 141 yards.

The Chiefs jumped out to an early lead when Mahomes connected with receiver Tyreek Hill on a 41-yard post route for a touchdown on their first drive of the game. A botched snap in the driving snowstorm left the Chiefs on top 6-0.

Hill said the ability Mahomes posses to throw the ball anywhere in the field combined with his own improved route running makes that touchdown play possible.

“Obviously we practiced it during the week, it's just the connection and the bond me and Patrick got,” Hill said. “Not only me, but all of the receivers. I feel like anyone one of us could have made that play.

Kansas City built a 12-0 leading on two Harrison Butker field goals from 23 and 24 yards before the Broncos got on the board. Kicker Brandon McManus connected on a 32-yard field with 4:28 remaining in the second half.

The Chiefs responded with a quick-scoring drive of their own before the end of the half. Butker hit from 44 yards out as time expired, putting Kansas City up 15-3 at the break. Butker now has 411 points scored through the first three seasons of his NFL career, eclipsing the previous best of 409 points set by New Orleans Saints kicker Will Lutz to start a career.

Butker said he wore a seven-stud cleat on his left plant foot to guard against slipping in the snow, but wore a soccer cleat on his right kicking leg. The doesn't allow the kicker to generate as much power, which requires a bit of an adjustment.

“It is a challenge, but it's something that you got to overcome,” Butker said. “As an NFL kicker, it doesn't matter what the situation is, the ball's got to go through the uprights.”

Mahomes opening the second half leading his team on a 75-yard, 5 minute, 15 second drive capped off with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Hill. Hill caught five passes for 67 yards and two scores in the contest.

The win over the Broncos snapped a two-game winning streak for rookie quarterback Drew Lock. The native of Lee's Summit, Missouri, struggled in his first career game against the team he cheered for as a youth, completing 18-of-40 passes for 208 yards and an interception.

Lock said he's disappointed in the loss, but he enjoyed what he hopes serves as the first of many visits to his hometown as a starting NFL quarterback.

“Having the chance to play here was awesome,” Lock said. “Obviously you would like to win, but I think this is the list time that I will be visiting Arrowhead. I would like to think that it will be like this every time we come here and play in Arrowhead.”

Kansas City lost two starters to injury during the game. Defensive end Alex Okafor left with a pectoral injury after collecting a sack against Lock in the first half and did not return. Left guard Andrew Wylie left late in the fourth quarter with a left ankle injury, but it's not considered serious. Hill briefly left for a concussion evaluation received clearance to return to the game.