Watson throws 2 TDs as Jets beat Chiefs 38-26

Kansas City, MO - Deshaun Watson threw two touchdown passes, and the New York Jets generated 443 offensive yards while building enough separation to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 38-26 in Week 9.

New York established an advantage as the game unfolded and stayed in front while Kansas City worked to narrow the margin. The Jets finished with 19 first downs, 288 passing yards and 155 rushing yards, giving them 105 more offensive yards than the Chiefs. Kansas City totaled 338 yards, including 274 through the air.

Watson completed 27 of 41 passes for a game-high 288 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He posted a 92.3 passer rating and delivered the game's longest completion at 30 yards. Watson also produced the game-long rush, breaking off a 35-yard run as part of New York's 155-yard performance on the ground.

Omar Cooper Jr. was Watson's leading receiver, catching eight passes for 110 yards with a long reception of 29 yards. The touchdowns went to Kenyon Sadiq and Mason Taylor. Sadiq finished with three receptions for 36 yards, while Taylor caught two passes for 15 yards.

"We were able to stay patient and keep working through the entire game," Watson said. "Kansas City got pressure, but we didn't let one negative play change what we were trying to do. We had production in the passing game and the running game, and that gave everybody a role."

The rushing totals provided one of the clearest statistical differences between the teams. New York outgained Kansas City 155-64 on the ground. Antonio Gibson led the Jets with 58 yards on 10 carries, including a 23-yard run, while Isaiah Davis added 50 yards on seven attempts and scored a rushing touchdown. Davis averaged more than seven yards per carry and had a long run of 26 yards.

That ground production complemented a passing attack that distributed the ball beyond its leading receiver. Cooper supplied the only 100-yard receiving performance for New York, but Sadiq and Taylor each finished with a touchdown catch as Watson worked through 41 pass attempts.

"There was room for all of us to contribute," Cooper said. "My job was to be ready when the ball came my way and turn those chances into something useful. We kept putting pressure on them to defend the whole offense."

Patrick Mahomes matched Watson's completion and attempt totals, going 27 of 41 for 274 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. His 90.9 passer rating trailed Watson's mark by less than two points, but the Chiefs finished with 12 fewer points.

DeMario Douglas was Kansas City's most productive pass catcher and the game's leading receiver. He caught 10 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown, with a long reception of 25 yards. Travis Kelce added two catches for 26 yards and a touchdown. Ollie Gordon II scored on the ground, finishing with 10 yards on six carries.

Brashard Smith handled a game-high 11 rushing attempts for Kansas City and led the Chiefs with 46 yards, including a 22-yard run. The rest of the team combined for 18 rushing yards as Kansas City finished 91 yards behind New York in that category.

"We moved the football, but we didn't finish with enough points," Mahomes said. "There were good stretches, and DeMario gave us a lot in the passing game. We have to take the production we had and turn more of it into complete results."

The Jets converted 7 of 13 third downs, while the Chiefs went 6 of 13. New York also made more of its red-zone opportunities, scoring three touchdowns and one field goal across four trips inside the 20. Kansas City reached the red zone three times and came away with two touchdowns.

Both defenses produced takeaways. Minkah Fitzpatrick recorded New York's interception and returned it 58 yards while also finishing with two pass deflections. Kansas City countered with four sacks and one interception. Edefuan Ulofoshio added a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries for the Chiefs.

The result gave New York a second consecutive victory after the Jets entered the game at 3-5 with one win already in hand. Kansas City came in at 4-3 following consecutive losses and left Week 9 with another defeat despite Mahomes and Douglas combining for one of the game's most productive passing connections.

Up Next

The Jets will return home in Week 10 to host the Buffalo Bills and look to build on consecutive victories. Kansas City will head to Atlanta seeking a rebound against the Atlanta Falcons.