Patrick Mahomes wasted no time reminding everyone what he can still do.
Nine months after tearing two ligaments in his left knee, the Chiefs quarterback opened Monday’s season opener against the Broncos with a 15-yard touchdown run on Kansas City’s first drive. The early expectation had been a quieter version of Mahomes - more handoffs, more short throws, fewer of the improvisational scrambles that have defined so much of his game. Instead, he took off, slipped away from Denver defenders and finished the drive in the end zone while fans held their breath.
Mitch Holthus, the Voice of the Chiefs, delivered a big-time call on the play.
“Mahomes in the pocket, trying to keep the play alive. Moving left, scrambles, 10, to the 5, diving for the end zone,” Holthus said.
“Touchdown Kan-sas City! Nine months after ACL surgery, Patrick Mahomes runs it in for 15 yards out, and for Mahomes, his 20th rushing touchdown.
What an incredible story unfolding as Mahomes gets the Chiefs on the board.”
Kevin Harlan also had the call for Westwood One Sports.
“The Chiefs cash in on the interception by Denver”
The run even drew attention from Chiefs fans watching in South Korea, including Jun Hong Kim, who visited Kansas City in 2024 and shared the Korean call of the touchdown. While the Rams technically are the only team to have rights in South Korea under the NFL’s Global Markets Program, there are Chiefs supporters in the country.
Kim’s translation of the call captured the moment perfectly: “They need to go 15 yards because of the penalty. Mahomes stops and GETS OUT OF THE POCKET!
DODGED BACKSIDE! ESCAPE!
OHHHHHHH! PATRICK MAHOMES!
He shows he still got it from return!”
In Other News...
Chiefs May Have Found A Low-Cost Answer To Their WR Need
The Chiefs have spent plenty of time trying to piece together their receiving room, and one name floating into the conversation is Jerry Jeudy. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report recently identified Kansas City as a possible landing spot for the Browns wideout, framing him as a lower-cost way to address a roster need without forcing the Chiefs into a bigger splash than they may want to make.
Jeudys contract and Clevelands recent draft investments make him the kind of player whose availability can at least be debated, which is why the fit has drawn attention. For Kansas City, the appeal is obvious if the price is right, but for now it remains just that: a possibility, not a reported deal, leaving the Chiefs to keep weighing their options at receiver. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs May Have Unlocked An Unexpected New Role For Khyiris Tonga
Khyiris Tonga turned Kansas Citys opening win into more than a routine September snapshot, because his night stretched far beyond the usual run of snaps for a defensive lineman. He got work on defense and special teams, but the most eye-catching part of his usage came when the Chiefs leaned on him in an offensive package, a wrinkle that fit into a game where the running attack was a major reason they came away with the victory.
Andy Reid pointed to Tongas versatility after the game, which is the sort of detail that tends to matter in Kansas City when a player starts showing he can solve more than one problem. Whether this becomes a regular part of the Chiefs plans is still the open question, but Tongas role in the opener suggested the staff is willing to keep exploring how much value he can add when the game calls for something a little different. [Read more 🡒]
Patrick Mahomes Is Already Facing An MVP Debate After Week 1
The first week of the NFL season did more than reset the standings. It immediately reshaped the early MVP market, with Josh Allen still sitting as the favorite even as his odds tightened and the rest of the quarterback field shuffled behind him. Caleb Williams, after a high-scoring opener, surged from a long shot into the second spot, a reminder of how quickly the betting board can react when a young passer delivers a headline performance.
For Chiefs fans, the more familiar name in the mix is Patrick Mahomes, whose early odds moved along with the rest of the leagues top quarterbacks after Week 1. Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow also saw their numbers shift, underscoring that this race is already being judged less by reputation than by one-week impressions. It is still far too early for any real verdict, but the market has made one thing clear: Kansas Citys quarterback is in a crowded debate before September is even fully underway. [Read more 🡒]