The Kansas City Chiefs really took control in the second half and beat the Washington Commanders 28-7 on Monday night. Patrick Mahomes had a bit of a shaky start with two interceptions, but he bounced back strong, finishing with 299 yards passing and three touchdowns. 

Kareem Hunt did a great job running the ball and scored two touchdowns himself. This win is now the Chiefs’ fourth win in their last five games, and they’re really owning the Commanders — this was their ninth straight win against Washington.

Slow and Rocky Start

The first half didn’t look great for either team. Both offenses struggled to get anything going. Mahomes threw two interceptions early on, and one wasn’t even his fault — it just bounced off a receiver’s hands. 

On the other side, Marcus Mariota, who was starting because their usual QB Jayden Daniels got hurt last week, also threw two picks. The teams weren’t able to take advantage of those mistakes though, and both had drives that ended without any points. It really felt like both teams were trying hard but just couldn’t make the big plays.

Chiefs Find Their Groove

Things changed after halftime. The Chiefs put together solid drives and started clicking. Mahomes threw one touchdown to Travis Kelce, who tied Priest Holmes for the most touchdown catches in Chiefs history, with 83. 

Rashee Rice, coming back after missing six games due to suspension, caught nine passes for 93 yards and scored a late touchdown to seal the deal. Kareem Hunt was tough to stop, scoring two rushing touchdowns and helping the Chiefs dominate on the ground.

For Washington, they had a small bright spot with Terry McLaurin. He came back from a quad injury and caught three passes for 54 yards, including their only touchdown for the night. Deebo Samuel was back too but didn’t do much after his early catches, showing that Washington’s offense had a hard time keeping pace.

Chiefs Take Over in Second Half

The Chiefs showed why they were favored by over 12 points. They started the second half with an 80-yard drive ending with another Kareem Hunt touchdown. After the Commanders punted quickly, Kelce caught a touchdown that tied the team’s career record, which really shifted the momentum. 

The final nail in the coffin was a tough 94-yard drive — they actually ran over 100 yards when you count penalties — that ended with Rice’s 18-yard touchdown catch to extend their lead.

What This Means for Both Teams

Kansas City showed real resilience. After some early mistakes, Mahomes and the offense cleaned things up and made big plays when it counted. Their mix of experienced stars and young talent makes them a tough team to beat. This win keeps their playoff hopes strong and shows they can handle pressure, especially against a team they’ve beaten so many times before.

Washington, on the other hand, still have a lot of work to do. Injuries and inconsistent quarterback play have made it hard for them this year, especially on the road where they are 1-4. Their defense struggled to stop the Chiefs’ offense in the second half, and their own offensive mistakes cost them chances to stay in the game.

Looking Ahead|

Next up, the Commanders will try to turn things around when they play the Seattle Seahawks at home on Sunday night. The Chiefs will have a tough test as they head to Buffalo for a big rematch of last season’s AFC title game, a game both teams will be fired up for.

The Chiefs’ strong second half and their ability to fight back after a slow start made all the difference this time. If they keep playing like that, they’re going to be a scary team to face in the second half of the season.

The Chiefs proved once again that second-half dominance can change everything, and that’s the kind of insight our Bankroll U playmakers thrive on. We break down every trend and momentum swing to deliver picks that finish just as strong.