Chiefs rally to stun upset-minded Cleveland, winning opener 33-29

Patrick Mahomes led yet another Kansas City comeback from a halftime deficit, throwing for 337 yards and three touchdowns, while running for another score, as the Chiefs opened the 2021 season with a thrilling 33-29 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium.

With the Chiefs down two scores (29-20) early in the fourth quarter, wide receiver Tyreek Hill adjusted to a long Mahomes pass at midfield, before sprinting away from the Browns secondary for a momentum gathering 75 yard strike to draw Kansas City within two points.  While talented, the Browns showed that perhaps they were not quite ready to win in hostile Kansas City, with the Chiefs taking the lead with field position directly attributable to a potential punt dropped by Jamie Gillan, who was tackled by a sea of Chiefs at the 15 yard line, continuing a swing of momentum that saw the Chiefs defense, just prior to the kicking gaffe, stuff Cleveland’s offense three-and-out for the first time in the game.

Travis Kelce had two touchdown catches for Kansas City, winners of five straight games against Cleveland, including January’s AFC Divisional Round game on the same turf.  Andy Reid, with victory #99 in Kansas City, is now just one win away from reaching the triple digit mark in wins for both the Chiefs and his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles.

While the fourth quarter mistakes did in Cleveland, the Browns proved to be a very stout opponent for the two-time defending AFC champions, with Baker Mayfield throwing for 321 yards, and Nick Chubb rushing for 83 yards, while Kareem Hunt and Jarvis Landry both had running scores.

Here are the NFL scores from Opening Weekend (September 9-13, 2021): 

Thursday, September 9, 2021: 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31, Dallas Cowboys 29

Sunday, September 12, 2021: 

Philadelphia Eagles 32, Atlanta Falcons 6

Pittsburgh Steelers 23, Buffalo Bills 16

Carolina Panthers 19, New York Jets 14

Cincinnati Bengals 27, Minnesota Vikings 24 (OT) 

San Francisco 49ers 41, Detroit Lions 33 

Houston Texans 37, Jacksonville Jaguars 21

Seattle Seahawks 28, Indianapolis Colts 16

Arizona Cardinals 38, Tennessee Titans 13

Los Angeles Chargers 20, Washington Football Team 16

Miami Dolphins 17, New England Patriots 16

New Orleans Saints 38, Green Bay Packers 3

Denver Broncos 27, New York Giants 13

Los Angeles Rams 34, Chicago Bears 14

Monday, September 13, 2021: 

Las Vegas Raiders 33, Baltimore Ravens 27 (OT) 

Photo credit – Wikimedia Commons / Kansas City, MO