The Kansas City Chiefs extended their winning streak to three games on Monday night as Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce led the reigning Super Bowl champions to a 28-7 victory over the Washington Commanders at Arrowhead Stadium.

Mahomes, rebounding from a shaky first half that included two interceptions, threw three second-half touchdown passes to seal the win and push Kansas City’s record to 5-3 on the season. Washington, now 3-5, dropped their third straight game despite a promising start behind backup quarterback Marcus Mariota.

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Mahomes and Kelce Reignite Chiefs’ Offense

Mahomes completed 25 of 34 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns, finding his rhythm after halftime in what turned into one of Kansas City’s most complete performances of the year.

Tight end Travis Kelce delivered his best game of the season, finishing with six receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown, while Rashee Rice continued to emerge as a key weapon, adding nine catches for 93 yards and another score.

Running back Kareem Hunt also contributed heavily, scoring two touchdowns — one on the ground and another through the air — helping Kansas City control time of possession and dictate the pace.

“This is what we needed — a statement win,” Mahomes said after the game. “We had some mistakes early, but the team stayed composed. Travis [Kelce] was incredible tonight, and the defense gave us every chance to take over.”

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Chiefs Erupt in Second Half After Slow Start

Both teams struggled early, trading interceptions on their opening drives. Mahomes was picked off twice in the first half, including one inside Washington territory, while Mariota’s early interception was returned deep into Commanders’ territory but yielded no points.

The game remained tight until late in the second quarter, when Hunt’s 1-yard touchdown run put Kansas City ahead 7-0. Washington responded with a 66-yard, 10-play drive, capped by a spectacular 11-yard touchdown catch by Terry McLaurin, who managed to drag both feet inbounds after review, tying the score 7-7 just before halftime.

But Kansas City came out of the locker room energized. On the opening drive of the second half, Mahomes connected with Kelce on a 38-yard catch-and-run, setting up a short touchdown pass to Hunt on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line.

That score put the Chiefs up 14-7, and they never looked back.

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Kelce Touchdown Sparks Offensive Surge

After forcing a punt, Mahomes orchestrated another masterful drive, going 6-for-6 and finishing with a 10-yard touchdown strike to Kelce, extending the lead to 21-7 late in the third quarter.

Washington attempted to respond, crossing midfield on their next drive, but Mariota was sacked on third down by Chris Jones, halting any momentum.

Early in the fourth quarter, Mahomes engineered a 13-play, 94-yard drive, capped with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Rashee Rice to make it 28-7, effectively putting the game out of reach.

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Commanders Struggle Without Jayden Daniels

Washington’s offense, led by veteran backup Marcus Mariota in place of the injured Jayden Daniels, struggled to maintain consistency. Mariota completed 21 of 30 passes for 213 yards, throwing one touchdown and two interceptions.

McLaurin’s return from a four-game absence was a brief bright spot — he caught three passes for 54 yards and the Commanders’ lone touchdown — but he exited in the third quarter after re-aggravating a quad injury.

Without him, Washington’s offense sputtered, managing just 78 total yards after halftime.

To make matters worse, the Commanders were also without starting kicker Matt Gay due to a back injury. Emergency signee Matthew Wright handled duties but was not called upon as Washington failed to enter field-goal range after halftime.

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Kansas City Defense Silences Critics

The Chiefs’ defense, which had faced scrutiny earlier in the season, delivered one of its best performances yet. Linebacker Nick Bolton and defensive tackle Chris Jones anchored a unit that sacked Mariota four times and forced two turnovers.

Washington managed just 276 total yards and converted only 3 of 11 third downs.

“This was about pride,” said Jones. “We knew we had to set the tone defensively, especially with the offense finding its footing again. When we play like this, we’re hard to beat.”

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Chiefs Looking Ahead

With the victory, the Chiefs remain atop the AFC West and appear to be regaining their Super Bowl-caliber form. Mahomes’ connection with Kelce was back in full force, and the offense showed a balance that had been missing earlier this year.

Next week, Kansas City faces a divisional matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, while Washington will try to regroup at home against the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Game Summary

• Final Score: Kansas City Chiefs 28, Washington Commanders 7
• Location: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
• Records: Chiefs (5-3), Commanders (3-5)
• Top Performers:
  • Patrick Mahomes — 25/34, 299 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
  • Travis Kelce — 6 receptions, 99 yards, 1 TD
  • Kareem Hunt — 2 total TDs (1 rush, 1 receiving)
  • Marcus Mariota — 21/30, 213 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
  • Terry McLaurin — 3 receptions, 54 yards, 1 TD