Recap: Detroit Lions stun Kansas City Chiefs with 21-20 victory in season opener (2024)

By Alex Faber| Special to The Detroit News

The Detroit Lions stunned the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs Thursday evening, notching a 21-20 win in the nationally televised NFL season-opener. In a gutsy, surprisingly defense-focused matchup, Detroit proved it was worth all of the attention received in the offseason.

Quarterback Jared Goff was 22 for 35, throwing for 253 yards and a touchdown. Wide receivers Josh Reynolds and Amon-Ra St. Brown were his favorite targets. Reynolds finished with four receptions and 80-yards, while St. Brown ended with 71-yards on six receptions.

However, it was Detroit's defense that ultimately sealed the victory. Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson was a threat off the edge all evening, rookie safety Brian Branch notched a game-tying pick-six in the third quarter and defensive end Josh Paschal shot through Kansas City's offense line late in the fourth for an essential third-down stop. Down the stretch, the defense held firm against the league's best quarterback and ultimately sealed the stunning victory for the visitors from Detroit.

Lions defense closes the door, ices the win

Drive starts: KC 25 (7:06 4th)

Detroit's defense decides to make a key play of its own. On third-and-1 - typically an easy pickup for the ever-potent Mahomes-led Kansas City offense - defensive end Josh Paschal zips straight through the Chiefs' offensive line and notches a -3-yard tackle for loss.

Drive starts: DET 34 (5:06 4th)

The drive doesn't get off to a fantastic start, backed up by a false start on the first own. Gibbs more than makes up for the loss of yardage, bouncing off of tackles and rushing ahead for a 18-yard gain.

The drive comes to an end on the next set of downs. Montgomery carries the rock three straight times to put the Lions in a fourth-and-2 situation. Detroit elects to go for it in an attempt to keep Mahomes off the field, but Goff's pass is batted down and the ball is turned over on downs. It's up to the defense to hold onto the game.

Drive starts: KC 45 (2:30 4th)

The Chiefs offense looks completely out of sorts. There are multiple dropped passes, even with some stellar passes from Mahomes. Kansas City decides to go for it on fourth-and-25 on its own 30-yard line, but the story stays the same: an incomplete pass and possession is turned over on downs.

Drive starts: KC 30 (2:00 4th)

Montgomery carries the rock on the first two plays of the drive, pushing the Lions to third-and-2. Detroit gives it right back to him on third down and he picks it up, effectively sealing the victory for the visitors.

Goff, Detroit offense comes back to life, retakes lead 21-20

Drive starts: DET 25 (12:11 4th)

Detroit's drive faces an early third-and-12 after a couple of runs and a delay of game. Goff keeps the offense on the field with a deep shot under pressure, completing a 18-yard pass to Reynolds.

Detroit moves the chains on the ensuing set of downs thanks to a 8-yard catch from Wright and a few short-yardage runs. Then, it's back to Reynolds for a big play. Goff finds the speedy wide receiver deep right and Reynolds races ahead for a 33-yard gain, propelling the offense into the redzone.

It's up to Montgomery to cap off the drive. He runs right for 6-yard gain before blitzing up the middle for a 8-yard rushing touchdown, handing the lead back to Detroit.

Lions 21, Chiefs 20 (7:06 4th)

Detroit defense buckles down, forces field goal

Drive starts: DET 25 (2:10 3rd)

Detroit's offense looks a bit shaky. An incompletion and a tripping penalty puts Goff and the offense at their own 13-yard line on second-and-22. A deep 20-yard pass to wide receiver Kalif Raymond nearly salvages the drive, but Goff can't complete a pass to St. Brown on third-and-2nd.

Drive starts: KC 32 (1:06 3rd)

Mahomes quickly launches his offense into Detroit territory on second down, connecting with tight end Noah Gray for a 24-yard completion. Edwards-Helaire notches a 4-yard run and a 7-yard reception on the next set of downs to move the chains.

However, the Mahomes-driven offense stalls out yet again just outside the endzone. Detroit's defense stiffens up on second-and-1 and third-and-2, forcing Kansas City to settle for a field goal.

Branch, who notched the pick-six earlier in the quarter, comes down with a non-contact injury during the drive.

Chiefs 20, Lions 14 (12:11 4th)

Kansas City retakes lead with Butker FG, 17-14

Drive starts: KC 25 (10:54 3rd)

Following the pick-six, Mahomes and the Chiefs offense pick up just one first down. The rushing attack is still lackluster, forcing Kansas City's star quarterback to make all the plays. He can't quite do it on the third drive of the half, thanks in part to some increased pressure from Hutchinson and the Detroit defense. The Chiefs punt it back to the Lions.

Drive starts: DET 17 (8:36 3rd)

The pick-six looks to have brought some energy to a Detroit offense that hasn't scored since the first half. Goff targets St. Brown deep for a 18-yard reception in the middle of the field and strikes quickly on the very next down with a 12-yard dart to LaPorta.

The drive stalls out in Kansas City territory. A couple of meager gains on the ground and through the air are capped off with on incompletion on third down and punter Jack Fox sends possession back to the Chiefs.

Drive starts: KC 10 (5:44 3rd)

Mahomes uses his legs to give the Chiefs some breathing room on second down and the offense is back on the move. He targets Watson deep just a few plays later, heaving a deep pass deep into Lions territory. The receiver doesn't come down with it, but defensive back Cam Sutton is flagged for pass interference and Kansas City is suddenly at the Detroit 25.

However, the Lions catch a break on the next set of downs. A pair of drops on second and third downs puts the Chiefs at fourth down and the home team elects to play it safe and kick a field goal.

Chiefs 17, Lions 14 (2:10 3rd)

Branch notches game-tying pick-six

Drive starts: KC 25 (15:00 3rd)

Running back Isiah Pacheco runs for 2-yards and slips past for 10-yards on the next play thanks to a screen pass from Mahomes.

Kansas City stalls out on the next set of downs. Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson brings the pressure on third down and Mahomes settles for a 2-yard down dump off.

Drive starts: DET 7 (13:00 3rd)

Detroit's first drive of the second half comes to a quick end. Wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. can't quite bring in a pass from Goff on first down and Montgomery runs into a brock wall on second. The Lions notch just 4-yards on third down and punt it back to Kansas City.

Kansas City strikes before halftime, takes 14-7 lead

Drive starts: KC 7 (5:14 2nd)

Kansas City can't take an advantage of the turnover. A short-yardage run, meager scramble and incomplete pass force the Chiefs to punt it right back to Detroit.

Drive starts: DET 41 (3:54 2nd)

Montgomery runs to the right for 5-yards on first down. Goff throws an incompletion and takes a sack on the next two downs, as Detroit punts it right back to Mahomes and the Chiefs offense.

Drive starts: KC 18 (2:12 2nd)

Kansas City quickly brings the offense near midfield, as Mahomes completes a 25-yard pass to Rice. The offense nearly churns to a halt after a holding play creates a third-and-17 situation. But Mahomes launches a deep ball to wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling for 34-yards, flipping the field into Detroit territory.

Mahomes and the Chiefs keep the foot on the pedal. The star quarterback completes a 26-yard pass to wide receiver Justin Watson at Detroit's 4-yard line. Just one play later, Mahomes finds tight end Blake Bell in the endzone for a touchdown.

Chiefs 14, Lions 7 (0:34 2nd)

Drive starts: DET 25 (0:34 2nd)

The Lions notch one first down with just over 30 seconds on the clock. With no timeouts left and time draining, Detroit can't put together a drive to cut into the Chiefs' lead before halftime.

Redzone fumble brings promising Detroit drive to a halt

Drive starts: DET 25 (11:50 2nd)

Goff finds tight end Brock Wright in the middle of the field for a 9-yard gain, then uses his legs for a 2-yard run and a first down.

A play-action pass opens a lane for a crossing St. Brown and Goff throws a dart to his favorite receiver for a 21-yard completion. Rookie tight end Sam LaPorta gets in on the receiving action, snagging a pass and rumbling ahead for a 14-yard gain.

The Lions quickly push into the red zone jut a few plays later. He tosses it to Gibbs, who runs ahead to the Chiefs' 17-yard line. However, a mishandled snap leads to a loose ball in the backfield and Goff leaps on it for a loss of 10-yards.

Things go from bad to worse just a few plays later. Wide receiver Marvin Jones fumbles on third down and Kansas City recovers at its own 7-yard line.

Kansas City responds quickly, knots it up at 7-7

Drive starts: KC 25 (2:46 1st)

Kansas City quickly makes it to midfield, looking intent on answering Detroit's touchdown. The Chiefs can't quite get the ground game going, but Mahomes starts dotting up the Lions defense.

Mahomes also shows off his scrambling ability on the drive. Just outside the redzone, he avoids a sack and wheels ahead for a 16-yard gain, putting his team inside the 10-yard line. An ensuing 7-yard run puts the Chiefs on the Lions 2-yard line, right on the goal line.

On third down on the 1-yard line, Mahomes connects with wide-open wide receiver Rashee Rice for the game-tying touchdown.

Lions 7, Chiefs 7 (11:50 2nd)

Goff connects with St. Brown for first TD of the night

Drive start: DET 25(15:00 1st)

Detroit's offense takes the field first. Running back David Montgomery runs for 7-yards on first down, but a failed play-action pass and an incomplete pass on the next two plays forces a three-and-out on the first drive of the night.

Drive starts: KC 13 (14:09 1st)

Kansas City goes to the ground for the first two plays with Clyde Edwards-Helaire, setting up a 3rd-and-short. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes completes a 10-yard pass down the seam for a first down. However, the Chiefs' offense is brought to a halt on the next set of downs. Defensive end John Cominsky notches a shoe-string tackle on a scrambling Mahomes on third down, forcing Kansas City to punt it back to Detroit.

Drive starts: DET 9 (10:50 1st)

Detroit's next drive almost comes to a quick end, much like the first series of the evening. A short 3-yard run from Montgomery is followed up by a an incompletion and a pass short of the line to gain. However, on fourth-and-2 with the punting unit out, Jalen Reeves-Maybin takes the direct snap and rumbles ahead for the first down on a trick play.

The play seems to breathe some life into the Lions. Quarterback Jared Goff completes a 13-yard pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown and immediately follows it up with a 21-yard throw to Josh Reynolds.

Detroit's offense keeps marching. Rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs provides a spark of his own, rumbling and spinning ahead for a 17-yard gain. The Lions are just outside the red zone.

The Lions capitalize on the excellent drive. On third-and-6 inside the 10-yard line, Goff threads a pass to a crossing wide receiver, Amon-Ra St. Brown, who races into the endzone to take an early 7-0 lead over the Chiefs.

Lions 7, Chiefs 0 (2:46 1st)

Pregame

The long-awaited start of the 2023 NFL season arrives tonight, as the Detroit Lions travel to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the reigning Super Bowl-champion Kansas City Chiefs.

The Lions' 2022 season didn't end in a parade like their opponents. It came to an end before the playoffs even started. But Detroit's 8-2 run to end the year has fans and national writers alike excited about the team's potential heading into the 2023 season.

Quarterback Jared Goff is back at the helm, with star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and a formidable offensive line back for support. However, a busy offseason means plenty of new faces on both sides of the ball. On offense, look for rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs to add another dimension to the passing game and running back David Montgomery to help replace fan-favorite Jamaal Williams' production from a season ago.

Defensively, rookie linebacker Jack Campbell and first-year defensive back Brian Branch could make immediate impacts after a strong showing during training camp and the preseason. Free-agent acquisition C.J. Gardner-Johnson should also strengthen a secondary that struggled throughout the 2022 season.

Follow along here for live updates from Detroit News contributor Alex Faber.

Season opener: Lions at Chiefs

▶Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. Thursday, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

▶TV/radio: NBC/97.1

▶Records: Season opener for both teams

▶Line: Chiefs by 6½

▶Last meeting: Sept. 29, 2019 — Chiefs 34, (at) Lions 30

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