Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes are stunned by Lions! Super Bowl MVP tosses pick-6 and fizzles down the stretch in NFL 2023 season opener as Kansas City’s title defense gets off to dreary start against Jared Goff & Co.

Patrick Mahomes got an interception back for a touchdown and whizzed down the stretch against the hungry young Detroit Lions as defending champion Chiefs dropped the 2023 season opener 21-20 Thursday night in Kansas City.

Mahomes & Co. fell behind early on Thursday at Arrowhead Stadium after Detroit’s Jared Goff found impressive sophomore receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for the first touchdown of the 2023 season.

But the defending champions stormed back in the second quarter as Mahomes connected on a pair of touchdown passes with Rashee Rice and Blake Bell.

Then it was rookie safety Brian Branch’s turn to introduce himself to the NFL with a pick-six, with the Mahomes offering 50 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 14-14 early in the third quarter.

After a pair of goals from Harrison Butker pushed Kansas City into a 20–14 lead, Detroit running back David Montgomery tied the game with an eight-yard touchdown run. Riley Patterson added the extra point for a 21-20 lead.

Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions passes in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs

The Lions attempted to run out the clock when Goff got a fourth downpass near center field, which was knocked down with 2:30 left, giving the Chiefs a chance.

But they messed it up: Kadarius Toney dropped a potential 20-yard gain, another 20-yard pass was called back to hold, and Skyy Moore also dropped a pass before a false start left Mahomes with a fourth and threw 25 yards. downfield.

When it fell incomplete and Detroit took over, Montgomery ran for a first down that allowed the Lions to run out the clock.

Mahomes finished with 226 yards passing and two touchdowns despite his receivers dribbling a slew of passes. He was also the leading rusher for the Chiefs, whose self-inflicted wounds proved too much to overcome.