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 had an interception returned for a touchdown and fizzled down the stretch against the hungry, young Detroit Lions as the defending-champion Chiefs dropped the 2023 season opener, 21-20, on Thursday night in Kansas City.  

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

But the defending champs came storming back in the second quarter as Mahomes connected on a pair of touchdown passes to Rashee Rice and Blake Bell.

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

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

Jared Goff (16) led the Detroit Lions to a 21-20 win over the defending Super Bowl champions

Lions safety Brian Branch recorded a pick 6 in his NFL debut and got his first-career TD

The Lions were trying to run out the clock when Goff had a fourth-down pass near midfield batted down with 2:30 left, giving the Chiefs a chance.

But they made a mess of it: Kadarius Toney dropped a potential 20-yard gain, another 20-yard pass was called back for holding, and Skyy Moore also dropped a pass before a false start left Mahomes heaving a fourth-and-25 throw downfield.

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

Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown was responsible for scoring the first points of the season

David Montgomery scored the game winning touchdown when he scored on an eight-yard run

Mahomes finished with 226 yards passing and two touchdowns, despite his receivers dripping a slew of passes. 

He also was the leading rusher for the Chiefs, whose self-inflicted wounds proved too much to overcome.

That was the anticipation. The anxiety came from the absence of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and fellow All-Pro Chris Jones, who is in the midst of a contract holdout.

The defensive tackle was expected to miss the opener, but Kelce had only been questionable since Tuesday, when he hyperextended his knee in the final full practice before game day.