By MATT PIKE
The Kansas City Chiefs got off to a good start in their first preseason action of the season, scoring quickly with their starting unit on the field, but ended up falling to the Arizona Cardinals in the end 20-17 on Saturday night at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
After the Cardinals fumbled the opening kickoff the Chiefs offense took over. Head Coach Andy Reid said going into the week that Patrick Mahomes and the starting unit would play the first quarter, however Mahomes played just a mere 48 seconds, as the Mahomes found Jason Brownlee on a one yard touchdown pass capping a two play drive.
The Chiefs defense stood strong again on Arizona's next offensive drive, Jaden Hicks ending an eight play drive by intercepting Kyler Murray at the Kansas City nine yard line, returning it to the 12 yard line. The Chiefs would end up having to punt with Gardner Minshew now leading the offense, and on the ensuing drive the Cardinals got on the scoreboard on a 33 yard field goal by Chad Ryland.
Kansas City answered by extending the lead with a touchdown, a nine play drive ending with a two yard rushing touchdown by Minshew. But, to end the first half, Arizona scored 14 unanswered points, first capitalizing off an interception of Minshew and getting a 43 yard passing touchdown from Jacoby Brissett to Emari Demercado capping a five play drive, then after forcing a punt scoring again on another passing touchdown Brissett going one yard to Xavier Weaver ending a nine play drive, leaving the Chiefs trailing 17-14 at halftime.
The lone scores in the second half were field goals. In the third quarter the Chiefs tied the game up with a 58 yard field goal by Harrison Butker. The Cardinals took the lead in the fourth quarter on what ended up being the game winning score, a 50 yard field goal by Ryland.
Mahomes was 1-of-1 passing for one yard and a touchdown on the day. Minshew was 6-of-8 through the air for 54 yards with three rushes for four yards and a touchdown. Robert Tonyan led the receivers on the day with three catches for 49 yards while Nikko Remigio had two catches for 24 yards. On the ground, Carson Steele had three carries for 15 yards while Elijah Mitchell had three carries for 10 yards and Brashard Smith had four carries for 10 yards.
Next in the preseason, Kansas City travels to the Seattle Seahawks. Kickoff will be at 9pm, pregame will air at 8 on Q Country 92.7 (92.7 FM). The Chiefs still have three more practices in St. Joseph for Chiefs Training Camp at Missouri Western State University, starting on Monday at 10:15.