For two quarters on Monday night, the Kansas City Chiefs looked like a team searching for answers. Turnovers, penalties and missed opportunities stalled their rhythm against the Washington Commanders.
But when they walked out of the locker room after halftime, something had changed.
Patrick Mahomes led three straight touchdown drives to start the second half, completing 15 of his next 17 passes for 196 yards and three scores. The defense followed his lead, allowing just 66 total yards after halftime and holding Washington scoreless as the Chiefs turned a frustrating start into a dominant 28-7 victory. It was their fifth win in six games, allowing them to improve to 5-3 after an 0-2 start — and a reminder of how quickly this team can find another gear.
“I thought our guys played a great second half,” head coach Andy Reid said after the game. “The first half, we lacked a little bit. But [in] the second half, we came around. Both sides of the ball — and special teams — did a nice job there. There are a lot of individual accolades that could go out to the guys, but the main thing is we played as a team in that second half.”
The turnaround began with a reset in the locker room. For Mahomes — who threw two first-half interceptions — it was about changing the offensive mindset to match Washington’s intensity.
“When we got in the locker room, we talked about executing,” Mahomes said. “Sometimes you want to press and make things happen — especially on a big game like ‘Monday Night Football.’ We weren’t doing that. They had more energy than we did — their defense versus our offense — so we had to match their energy and execute at a higher level. We were able to do that in the second half — starting with that first drive — and carried that momentum through the second half.”
On the first drive of the second half, Mahomes methodically marched the offense 80 yards downfield before connecting with Kareem Hunt on a two-yard touchdown pass to cap the eight-play series — a drive that set the tone for what would follow.
Tight end Travis Kelce, who finished the night with six receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown, had the biggest play of that drive — a 38-yard catch-and-run after slipping free from a blocking assignment.
“Even though we haven’t been hitting some of these explosive plays, defenses are respecting it,” said Mahomes of the game’s longest play. “That one was actually a shot play downfield where I think I had [Xavier Worthy] and [Hollywood Brown], but they covered it well. The safety was extremely far deep. Travis was supposed to block — and he was blocking — [but] then you kind of have to play ball. He released because he saw nobody was guarding him. I threw him the football, and he made a lot of yards happen after the catch.”
While the offense was finding its rhythm throughout the night, the Chiefs’ defense stayed in control of the game — even against a team that goes out of its way to wear down opposing defenses.
“[Washington’s] one of the more aggressive teams in the league when it comes to going for it on fourth down,” Reid noted. “They were tonight, and we were able to stop them a couple of times.”
In fact, Washington was 0-for-2 on fourth down — while Kansas City was 2-for-2.
Reid characterized the Chiefs’ win as complementary football — something both he and Mahomes have been seeking all season. The offensive and defensive units fed off each other, staying composed through the uneven first half — and gradually asserting control.
“At this level, you need everybody,” remarked the head coach. “They stay positive — and that’s the part I appreciate. Even when things are up and down, they stay positive and create energy with that. We were able to come around and make some plays on both sides of the ball.”
All five of Kansas City’s 2025 wins have been by double digits. With a trip to Buffalo up next, the Chiefs’ renewed dominance will face another test — but on Monday night, they looked every bit like a team built for those challenges.
“Whenever the offense, defense and special teams are rolling, it’s fun to play football,” said Mahomes. “It’s been awesome doing it here at Arrowhead. Now we’ve got to take it on the road and see if we can do it again.”
