Why the KC Chiefs’ offense, turnovers and all, had its best day yet this season vs. WFT

The Chiefs have scored more points in games this season than they did on Sunday.

But their 31-13 win at Washington, earned on a day when the defense undoubtedly had its best game yet this fall, may have featured the best showing yet for the Kansas City offense, too.

How’s that, you ask? Well, the Chiefs got production from nearly all of their assets. Patrick Mahomes threw for a season-best 397 yards, and did so on a day when Travis Kelce (99 receiving yards) and Tyreek Hill (76) didn’t top 100.

Kelce and Hill were a bit banged up. Hill missed some time in the second and third quarters, dealing with a quad injury, and at one point Kelce limped off the field.

But the Chiefs got plenty of contributions from other guys. There was a touchdown grab by Demarcus Robinson, his second this season. Mecole Hardman pulled in a 49-yard catch down the sideline and added a pair of punt returns totaling 56 yards,

Reserve tight end Jody Fortson and running back Jerick McKinnon each had one reception, but both were big plays.

Fortson made a sensational catch on a ball he trapped against a defender’s helmet for a 27-yard gain. Teammate Darrel Williams, who earned the start in place of Clyde Edwards-Helaire (MCL injury), ran it in from the 2-yard line on the Chiefs’ next play.

On the final play of the first quarter, McKinnon converted a reception that was headed for a scant gain into a second-effort 5 yards: good for a first down.

And K-State product Byron Pringle finished with three receptions for 55 yards.

Williams? All he did was score two rushing touchdowns, totaling 62 yards on 21 carries. He also had 27 yards receiving on three catches.

And when everyone pitches in, defenses get stretched.

“They were kind of doubling Tyreek and Travis on those third-down situations,” Mahomes said. “You saw me running a little bit, but also we had plays to D-Rob (Robinson, on the touchdown) and Mecole down the sideline.”

The Chiefs finished with 499 yards of total offense, a season high. They needed everyone to contribute to amass that kind of production. Also, it happened without the help of newly receiver acquired Josh Gordon, who logged only a few snaps Sunday and wasn’t targeted.

“Teams are going to try to take our two best guys in certain situations — other guys have to make plays,” Mahomes said. “You saw that today.

“It’s going to be like that all season long. Teams are going to keep playing us the same way, force us to be patient and let us have other guys make plays. We have to trust in those guys to do that.”