Kansas City’s head coach and quarterback were amazed by the team’s defensive performance.
On Sunday afternoon, the Kansas City Chiefs collected a 27-20 win over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium, pushing their 2024 record to 7-0 and tying a franchise record with their 13th consecutive victory.
Fans were especially interested to see newly-acquired wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins see some action — and they were not disappointed. Head coach Andy Reid was pleased.
“I thought it was good,” he told reporters after the game. “He wanted to be in there, which is a positive — and I understand. So he will get more chances the next game.”
Hopkins had a key catch in the game’s opening drive. Targeted three times, he caught a pair of passes for 29 yards — and played an important role in helping tight end Travis Kelce collect 10 catches for 90 yards and a touchdown.
“I thought he did a great job,” said quarterback Patrick Mahomes. “[On] third down, he had the big catch early in the game — and then he had a couple of other big plays. I missed him on that one corner route early [in the game], but [he] still got open.
“Then as I looked back at the tablet [on the sideline], there were a couple of times where in man coverage, he was just really working and winning. Even the touchdown to Trav, if you look back on his side, he’s open for a touchdown there.
“I mean, obviously, I know the type of player he is — but when you see that on the field, it shows that if they’re going to play man coverage against him, he’s going to get open. I have to give him the chances to go out there and make plays.”
But it wasn’t just the passing game that was working. While Kareem Hunt accumulated just 59 yards on 21 attempts, it was obvious that Kansas City could depend upon him to keep the defense honest. And, of course, Mahomes scrambled in key moments, too. In a 19-play drive that stretched into the third quarter, the quarterback converted two third downs with his legs — one of them a third-and-12.
“I think guys just did their job,” said Mahomes. “I don’t think it was one [thing] or another. I mean, we ran it sometimes; I ran it sometimes. We threw the ball when we needed to throw the ball. That [Las Vegas] defense has a lot of different coverages. Guys were able to recognize the coverages and execute at a high level. I thought we played a pretty good football game offensively.”
Then there was the Kansas City defense, which allowed an opening drive touchdown. But from then until fourth-quarter garbage time, the unit allowed just two Las Vegas field goals. Then, when a deflected pass was intercepted in the third quarter — giving the Raiders the ball at the Kansas City 3-yard line — the Chiefs’ defense shut them down cold. Las Vegas gave up the ball on downs.
Reid called the series “unbelievable.”
“Offensively, we put the defense in a bad position,” he said. “But we held up as a defense. We came out and put our foot down and did a nice job there. That was important.”
Mahomes was amazed by the defensive stop.
“In a bad situation, that whole entire unit stepped up when their number was called to make a big-time stop,” he marveled. “That’s what it takes from great football teams. It takes greatness from everybody; it can’t be one guy. That’s what’s made us so great for so long. Throughout my career, it’s not all about me. It’s not all about Trav. It’s about this entire team. That’s what makes it so special.”
And now, that team is 7-0.
