For the NFL’s Week 2, the Kansas City Chiefs are in Florida to face the Jacksonville Jaguars at their EverBank Stadium. In this rematch of the 2022 Divisonal round playoff game, the defending Super Bowl champions will be trying to get their season back on track after a 21-20 loss to the Detroit Lions in the season opener 10 days ago on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Meanwhile, Jacksonville will be working to extend their record to 2-0 after its 31-21 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1.
First quarter
The Chiefs won the opening coin toss, deferring their decision to the second half. That gave Jacksonville possession first, starting from the 25-yard line after a touchback.
With defensive tackle Chris Jones back in the starting lineup, the unit got into a third down quickly — but a swift completion to wide receiver Calvin Ridley in front of cornerback L’Jarius Sneed moved the chains. In Kansas City territory, the Chiefs’ defense got to third down again, and the pass rush closed in. Jones’ pressure helped defensive linemen George Karlaftis and Mike Danna split a sack. The Jaguars had to punt away.
From their own 10-yard line, the Chiefs couldn’t get any sort of possession started. After wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling couldn’t move the chains on a pass caught past the first-down marker, a sprint-out attempt on third down went bad. A desperation completion to left tackle Donovan Smith was penalized, and the Chiefs punted after a three-and-out.
Defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi started the second drive with a batted-down pass, setting up a third down. On the attempt, Sneed won this matchup with Ridley, batting away a slant pattern and forcing a punt.
The Kadarius Toney redemption story started on the Chiefs’ second drive, with him racking up 41 yards on three catches, all three of them moving the chains. He showed off elusiveness and contact balance throughout the drive. It advanced the Chiefs into Jacksonville territory, but a holding call on Donovan Smith took away a first-down completion to tight end Travis Kelce. The Chiefs were forced to punt.
A great punt forced the Jaguars to be pinned deep in their own territory, but Jacksonville came out of it by targeting Ridley with Sneed on him again. Sneed got called for pass interference and bailed them out. However, the Chiefs’ defense settled in, and a hard, open-field tackle by cornerback Jaylen Watson forced fourth down as the quarter ended.
Second quarter
After deciding not to go for it on fourth down, the Jaguars punted it away — and got possession back when wide receiver Richie James muffed the return.
From the 17-yard line, the Jaguars worked their way into third down with seven yards to convert. An attempt to the back of the end zone was contested enough by cornerback Trent McDuffie to be ruled incomplete. The Chiefs’ defense held after the turnover, holding the Jaguars to a field goal and a 3-0 lead.
The Chiefs’ offense struggled their way to a third-down attempt on the next drive, and Mahomes converted with a pass to wide receiver Justin Watson — but Watson fumbled as he went to the ground. Jacksonville recovered and took over in Kansas City territory, thanks to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Travis Kelce.
On the Jaguars’ first play following the fumble, they turned it over themselves: a lateral pass was dropped, and Sneed recovered it to bail the Chiefs’ offense out.
The Chiefs didn’t take long to give it right back to Jacksonville. After a false start and a fumbled snap, Mahomes attempted a deep ball into double coverage, and the pass was intercepted by safety Andre Cisco deep in Kansas City territory.
With nine minutes to go in the first half, the Jaguars began marching down the field with run plays and quick completions. They passed midfield after a screen to tight end Evan Engram moved the sticks. However, the Chiefs’ defense got stout when they needed to, and pressure by Jones and defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah forced a fourth down.
However, the Jaguars’ offense stayed on the field, and the Chiefs made him pay. Jones rushed from the right tackle, beat him, and earned a sack to give Kansas City the ball back near midfield.
With four minutes to go, the Chiefs’ offense started like they’ve played all day: bad. Mahomes waited too long and allowed the pocket to collapse in on him. After that, a penalty for an illegal formation set them back even further. Tight end Noah Gray made up as much as he could with an impressive catch and run, which set up fourth down with two yards to go as the two-minute warning hit.
Out of a break, Mahomes hit running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire quickly out of the backfield to get a new set of downs as time wound down. After another big completion to Gray, Mahomes looked to wide receiver Skyy Moore on a back-shoulder throw in the end zone. A well-timed throw made it a touchdown, Moore’s first of his career in the regular season. An extra point made the score 7-3 in the Chiefs’ favor.
With less than 30 seconds to go in the second quarter, the Chiefs’ defense allowed Jacksonville to advance into scoring position. Sneed was called for his second interference flag, and helped the Jaguars set up a field goal. The successful kick tightened the Chiefs’ lead to 7-6 at halftime.
Third quarter
From their own 19-yard line, the Chiefs’ rushing attack woke up when a hole off tackle broke open for running back Isiah Pacheco to sprint through for 31 yards. A few snaps later, Mahomes found Justin Watson streaking vertically and hooked up for 34 yards on third down. A good-looking drive ended with a scrambling Mahomes finding Kelce in the end zone, pushing Kansas City’s lead to 14-6.
The Chiefs’ defense continued it’s stingy performance: Karlaftis earned a sack on first down, then a tight-window throw was incomplete in the middle of the Chiefs’ secondary on third down. It was a quick drive for Jacksonville.
The Chiefs’ offense went back to its initial sloppiness on their second drive of the third quarter. Right tackle Jawaan Taylor got called for holding on two plays, and actually went to the sideline after the second one. Right tackle Prince Tega Wanogho replaced him, but the Chiefs eventually punted after going nowhere.
Kansas City’s defense continued to make life hard on the Jaguars. After a run stop by linebacker Nick Bolton, cornerback Trent McDuffie blitzed and helped force an incompletion. Then, Chris Jones knocked down a screen attempt to force a punt.
Injuries
- Linebacker Nick Bolton stayed on the ground after a play in the second quarter. He returned a few snaps later.
- Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. was in pain after a play in the second quarter.
Special Teams
- Punter Tommy Townsend’s second punt of the first quarter was downed at the 2-yard line by gunner Jaylen Watson.
- Punt returner Richie James had one return attempt for four yards in the first quarter. On his third return attempt, he muffed it and gave Jacksonville the ball back.
- Kicker Harrison Butker converted his first extra-point attempt in the second quarter.