Lions-Chiefs recap: Hendon Hooker’s caps strong day with game-winning drive

Full recap, highlights of the Detroit Lions’ 24-23 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Because the Detroit Lions have rested their starters this preseason, one of the biggest storylines in these exhibition games is the backup quarterback situation. In last week’s game against the New York Giants , neither Nate Sudfeld nor Hendon Hooker looked particularly comfortable out there.

In a much more sunny environment in Kansas City this week, both quarterbacks looked improved. Sudfeld was able to score Detroit’s first touchdown of the preseason, but it was Hooker’s play in the second half that seemed like a huge revelation. And despite a botched exchange that nearly cost the Lions the game, Hooker had one more opportunity to win the game and did.

Here’s how it all happened.

First quarter

The Lions won the toss and deferred, giving the ball to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense first. While the Lions got an opportunity to get off the field quickly, Patrick Mahomes found a wide open Xavier Worthy for 39 yards on a coverage bust.

Coverage tightened up after that, forcing Mahomes to throw a couple of balls away. But they were close enough for a 33-yard field goal, and it was good for an early 3-0 Chiefs lead.

Nate Sudfeld would take the start for the Lions’ offense. Unlike last week, he was able to pick up a first down early, finding Tom Kennedy on a third-and-7. Eventually, they worked their way into a fourth-and-3 just on the Chiefs’ side of the field, but Detroit couldn’t get the defense to jump offsides and the Lions punted away.

Kansas City went back on the attack, again converting a third-and-long—this time a third-and-8 to wide open receiver Rashee Rice. On the next play, Lions edge defender Isaac Ukwu suffered a lower-body injury after getting cut blocked at the line of scrimmage. He would later return after missing a series.

Then Mahomes pulled some magic with a behind-the-back throw on third-and-short, helping set the Chiefs up deep into Lions territory.

But Mitchell Agude absolutely blew up a third-down screen to hold the Chiefs to another field goal. 6-0 Chiefs.

Jalon Calhoun fumbled the ensuing kick return to immediately give the ball back to the Chiefs, although Carson Wentz took over.

On another third-and-long, Wentz found a wide open Xavier Worthy, who had beaten Amik Robertson, for a 22-yard touchdown and a 13-0 Chiefs lead.

Of note: Lions backup tackle Dan Skipper appeared to suffer a lower-body injury early in the game. He finished the series, but he was replaced by Jamarco Jones at left tackle for Detroit’s second drive.

The Lions’ offense finally got their second series of the game and got off to a nice start with an 11-yard pickup from Isaiah Williams on an end around. A 13-yard pass to James Mitchell got the Lions into Chiefs’ territory again, as the first quarter expired.

Second quarter

Detroit quickly got into a third-and-6, but Sudfeld couldn’t find Kaden Davis, setting up a 55-yard field goal attempt from Jake Bates, which he nailed. 13-3 Chiefs.

Detroit’s defense got off the field quickly with a three-and-out, after Wentz connected with John Ross on a deep shot, but Kindle Vildor forced him just out of bounds before he could land.

After a good punt return from Isaiah Williams, Sudfeld continued to quarterback the offense. This time, he kicked off the drive with a 10-yard rush after a great run fake. But Sudfeld couldn’t connect with Tom Kennedy on third-and-6, resulting in Detroit’s second punt of the day.

Detroit’s defense got another three-and-out but had a big special teams scare when Williams fumbled the return. Luckily, C.J. Moore was there to jump on top of it.

The offense picked up a quick 28 yards thanks to a pair of runs from Sione Vaki and a 17-yard catch-and-run by Williams. On the next play, Sudfeld had brilliant protection and found Kaden Davis on a crosser route, who turned it upfield for a 61-yard touchdown, but Bates missed the extra point. 13-9 Chiefs.

The Chiefs added to their lead on the next drive thanks to a 41-yard draw play from Deneric Prince. But Mathieu Betts picked up a huge third-down sack to force a 56-yard field goal attempt. Harrison Butker nailed it, though. 16-9 Chiefs.

With four minutes left, Sudfeld had the opportunity to tie or take the lead, but on the very first play, he tried to fit a tight ball to Donovan Peoples-Jones, and it was picked off.

Detroit got another three-and-out on defense thanks to this big play from Khalil Dorsey on first down.

Sudfeld got one more opportunity to run the two-minute drill. He connected with Vaki on third down who turned it up for 20 yards.

After another pass to Vaki, Sudfeld converted another third down with a crafty shovel pass to Jake Funk, setting the Lions up in the red zone with only 36 seconds left. They went right back to Vaki for another 12 yards (for a total of 59 receiving yards on this drive). But they couldn’t punch it in and settled for a short, 23-yard field goal. 16-12 Chiefs.

Third quarter

Hendon Hooker took over in the second half. The Lions offense got a couple of strong runs from Zonovan Knight, but after a penalty and a ball batted at the line, Detroit was forced to punt it away.

Detroit’s punt coverage slipped up, and let Chiefs receiver Nikko Remigio return it for 43 yards. The Chief’s third-string offense took over, and they had nothing going for them. A quick three-and-out prevented the punt return from doing any damage.

The offense found some rhythm, with Hooker converting a third-and-6 on a dump-off to Williams. Then on a third-and-1, he found a wide open Maurice Alexander for 28 yards. But once in the red zone, a tricky touch pass to Williams was sniffed out by Kansas City for a 4-yard loss, and the Lions offense couldn’t recover. Bates trotted out for a 32-yard field goal to make it 16-15 Chiefs.

A big kick return by Sky Moore set the Chiefs up near midfield. But an Isaac Uwku sack set them back big time, setting up a third-and-27.

Note: Reserve linebacker Malik Jefferson was injured on this drive and went to the locker room.

Fourth quarter

After Agude broke up another screen pass, the Chiefs were forced to punt—starting inside their own 10-yard line. Detroit was only able to muster a single first down before Hooker took a sack on a rushed third down play. But a monster 71-YARD PUNT from Jack Fox flipped the field position, forcing the Chiefs back inside their own 20.

But the Chiefs would strike anyway. Cornell Powell made a nice catch over Steven Gilmore, then broke a tackle for a 64-yard touchdown and a 23-15 Chiefs lead with 9:25 left.

Hooker answered nicely. A big 37-yard strike to Isaiah Williams set Detroit up in scoring position. Then on third-and-goal, Hooker waited patiently in the pocket, eventually tucked the ball and ran for a 7-yard touchdown. (But he was sacked on the two-point conversion). 23-21 Chiefs.

The ending to this game was chaos. The Chiefs fumbled on back-to-back plays, with the Lions recovering deep in Chiefs territory thanks to a Josh Paschal sack.

But just as the Lions were ready to take the lead, Hooker and Knight botched an exchange and the Chiefs recovered.

That wasn’t enough to keep the Lions out, though. A quick defensive three-and-out gave the offense the ball back with just under two minutes left. Thanks to an impressive return from Williams, Hooker would start the drive at the Chiefs’ 38-yard line. The drive began with a 14-yard pass to Kennedy, putting Detroit into field position already. With no opportunity to stop the clock, the Chiefs just had to watch the time bleed.

Eventually, it was up to Jake Bates to kick the game-winning field goal from 43 yards and he drilled it. 24-23 Lions.