Yardbarker
x
Mahomes Makes History as Chiefs Shut Out Raiders
Main Image: Jay Biggerstaff Imagn Images

The Kansas City Chiefs climbed above .500 for the first time this season as Patrick Mahomes made history in a dominant 31-0 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. It marked the Chiefs’ first regular-season shutout since 2011 and reaffirmed their status as the team beat in the AFC yet again.

This Week 7 matchup was also highlighted by the return of wide receiver Rashee Rice, who provided a spark on offense as Kansas City handled business within the division ahead of a crucial stretch of primetime games.

Mahomes Makes History

Patrick Mahomes, who turned 30 earlier this season, entered Sunday with a 92–26 regular-season record as a starting quarterback — tied with Hall of Famer Peyton Manning for the most regular-season victories by a quarterback age 30 or younger in NFL history. With the win over Las Vegas, Mahomes now stands alone atop that list, and can add to it considerably the rest of the season.

Mahomes also recorded a 100.0+ passer rating, becoming just the fourth player ever with 60 such games in his first nine seasons—joining Russell Wilson (74), Dak Prescott (63), and Matt Ryan (61). Incredibly, Mahomes played only one game in his rookie season.

Having his third game out of the last four with at least three touchdown passes, Mahomes is now the only quarterback in the league with simultaneously more than 1,800 passing yards and 250 rushing yards this season. With his current form, he has emerged as the firm favorite to capture his third regular-season MVP award.

Rashee Rice Shines in Chiefs’ Dominant Win

Rashee Rice made an instant impact in his return, scoring two touchdowns, his first multi-touchdown performance in his career, while catching 7 passes for 42 yards. Mahomes targeted him more than any other weapon on the field, reaffirming Rice’s role as the offense’s go-to wideout in crucial situations.

How Did the Chiefs Look?

The Chiefs had already sounded off alarm bells across the league last week in their blowout win over the Detroit Lions. If that performance was a warning, this shutout of the Raiders was a full-blown statement.

In a game where Kansas City pulled its starters inside the third quarter, the Chiefs dominated in historic fashion—finishing with more total touchdowns (4) than the Raiders had first downs (3) and outgaining them by 339 total yards. Remarkably, the Chiefs recorded as many first downs as the Raiders ran total offensive plays, with the contest effectively decided by the middle of the second quarter.

Injury Concerns for Kansas City

Despite the dominant win, the Chiefs didn’t escape completely unscathed. Kansas City dealt with a host of injuries, most notably a back issue for right guard Trey Smith and a knee injury to rookie defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott, both of whom were ruled out before the end of the game.

Head coach Andy Reid provided an update following the victory, noting that Norman-Lott would undergo an MRI to determine the severity of his knee injury. As for Smith, Reid said his back “locked up” during the game, adding that the team hopes it’s nothing serious.

Xavier Worthy and Kareem Hunt each left the game briefly as well but returned to action for additional snaps. The Chiefs chose not to put Jawaan Taylor back in the game after he went out as well, likely as a precaution with most starters pulled early.

The Chiefs now turn their focus to closing out their three-game homestand next week on Monday Night Football against the Washington Commanders, as second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels faces Patrick Mahomes for the first time.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!