Patrick Mahomes on Thursday threw a touchdown pass and Harrison Butker kicked four field goals to lead defending NFL champions Kansas City over Denver 19-8.
Mahomes improved to 12-0 for his career against Denver as the reigning Super Bowl champions improved to 5-1, while the Broncos slid to 1-5.
It was the fifth triumph in a row for the Chiefs, whose only defeat came by 21-20 to Detroit in the NFL season opener.
Photo: AFP
“Today was big. Getting in the red zone was big,” Mahomes said. “Third downs, we’ve got to continue to work on and get better at. As a whole we’ve got the talent. It’s how can we execute the little things and be that team we want to be.”
Mahomes improved to 80-20 as an NFL starting quarterback, completing 30 of 40 passes for 306 yards, while rushing six times for 31 yards.
Travis Kelce, who had nursed an injury, caught nine passes for 124 yards, while the Chiefs defensive unit forced three turnovers.
“[As an] offensive guy I want to see a lot of points, but it’s great to see that defense locking down a good team,” Mahomes said. “They’ve done it all year long and they don’t get the credit. The defense is something special so far.”
Mahomes, 28, drove the Chiefs 62 yards in seven plays for a touchdown, with his three-yard scoring toss to Kadarius Toney producing a 10-0 lead with 3 minutes, 6 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
Butker, who made a 35-yard field goal in the first quarter, kicked a 60-yard field goal to close the first half and put the Chiefs ahead 13-0, then added a 25-yarder in the third quarter for a 16-0 advantage.
The Broncos pulled within 16-8 with 6:11 remaining when Russell Wilson threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton and Javonte Williams ran in a two-point conversion.
Butker responded with his fourth field goal, connecting from 52 yards with 1:59 remaining, to secure the triumph.
ADVANTAGE ATLETICO: Well off the pace in La Liga, the Copa del Rey represents Atletico Madrid’s best chance of silverware this season Atletico Madrid on Thursday hammered Copa del Rey holders Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of their semi-final. After an Eric Garcia own-goal sent Diego Simeone’s side ahead early on, Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman and Julian Alvarez struck to give Atletico a landslide lead by halftime. Barca defender Garcia was sent off in the final stages, with Atletico maintaining their significant advantage on the record 32-time winners, which they take into the second leg at the Camp Nou on March 3. Both sides missed good chances in the second half, with Barca’s Pau Cubarsi having a goal disallowed before Garcia was sent off
Dasun Shanaka hammered the fastest half-century by a Sri Lankan in T20Is as the cohosts thrashed Oman by 105 runs at the World Cup yesterday in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, for their second win in Group B. The 2014 champions piled up 225-5, the highest total of the tournament, before restricting an outclassed Oman to 120-9. The 43-year-old Mohammad Nadeem waged a lone battle for Oman, compiling an unbeaten 53 to become the oldest player to score a 50 in T20 World Cups. Having promoted himself up the order and under pressure to deliver, Sri Lanka skipper Shanaka smashed a 19-ball half-century. It has been
Kawhi Leonard on Sunday scored 41 points, grabbed eight rebounds and made four steals to lead the Los Angeles Clippers in a lopsided 115-96 victory at Minnesota. The 34-year-old forward, a two-time NBA champion, matched the second-best road scoring effort of his career as the Clippers improved to 25-27. “Just being aggressive. My teammates trust me,” Leonard said. “Every moment when I touch the ball — assist, shooting the basketball or getting a rebound — I’m just trying to help the team win.” Leonard made three steals in a row at the start of the contest. “Just wanted to come out early in the
FLOP TO CONQUEROR: It was sweet vindication for Sam Darnold, who played for four NFL teams before his debut season in Seattle ended in the ultimate win The Seattle Seahawks on Sunday coasted to Super Bowl glory, routing the New England Patriots 29-13 as Sam Darnold sealed his journey from flop quarterback to conqueror of the NFL’s biggest prize. Brushing off a reputation for wilting in big games, journeyman quarterback Darnold threw for a touchdown and 200 yards on the grandest stage of all to give the Seahawks their second-ever Lombardi Trophy. “It’s unbelievable. Everything that has happened in my career, but to do it with this team, I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Darnold said. The victory was buoyed by a dominant defensive display and kicker Jason Myers’
RSS