The Kansas City Chiefs struggled with turnovers during their sleepy, discombobulated first-half performance, but the Chiefs hit the reset button in the second half to dominate the Washington Commanders and post a 28-7 victory.

This was a tale of two halves that looked like they came from completely different games. Coach Andy Reid described the first half it as “just weird” due to the lack of execution and scoring, and the Chiefs went into the half tied at 7-7. 

“There wasn't a lot of punting but there wasn't a lot of points,” Reid said in the AP wrap-up via ESPN. “That doesn't normally happen.”

Reid has never been big on halftime speeches, but he likely didn’t have to give one in this one. Whatever he said or didn't say clearly worked, as the Chiefs came out and dominated the second half with three touchdown drives of 80, 75 and 94 yards. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes restored order by throwing three touchdown passes after getting intercepted twice in the first half. 

The Chiefs defense was also dominant, but that was expected with backup quarterback Marcus Mariota subbing in for injured QB Jayden Daniels, who was out with a hamstring injury. Mariota did what he usually does, which was flash at times to make good plays, then make costly poor decisions when pressured and kept in the pocket, especially in the second half. He would up with 213 yards passing on 21 of 30 to go with a touchdown pass, but Mariota was also picked twice. 

Reid also rediscovered the run game in this one, which also wasn’t a shock given the disastrous numbers associated with Washington’s run defense. Running back Isiah Pacheco resurfaced as the lead back with 58 yards on 12 carries, and running back Kareem Hunt found the end zone twice, once on the ground, the other via a two-yard touchdown pass. 

Records were also on the football menu for the Chiefs. Tight end Travis Kelce earned another line in the Chiefs record book with his 83rd touchdown, which tied former Chiefs running back Priest Holmes for the team record.

“He's just like, the true Chiefs' Chief," Mahomes said. “He helped set the culture and what it means to play in Kansas City.”

The Chiefs will have to play to that standard from the opening kickoff this Sunday when they hit the road for a rematch of the AFC title game against the Buffalo Bills, but Kansas City did get a break of sorts when it was learned that the Buffalo’s stud defensive tackle, Ed Oliver, will be out indefinitely with a torn bicep.