JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The NFL's reigning most valuable player put in his initial claim for this year's award in one quarter on Sunday.
Patrick Mahomes threw for 211 yards in the first quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs' 40-26 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, becoming the first quarterback in 40 years with at least 200 passing yards in the first quarter of a season opener.
Mahomes finished with 378 yards and three touchdowns despite a sprained left ankle that looked like it might force him from the game in the second quarter.
"He said he's had [sprained] ankles before [from] basketball and so on,'' Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "He felt comfortable going. I tried to keep a close eye on him as best I could. ... It didn't look like it was hindering him.''
Neither did the loss of last season's top receiver, Tyreek Hill, slow him down. Hill left the game in the first quarter with a collarbone and sternum injury, but Sammy Watkins had 198 receiving yards and all three touchdowns.
"Whenever somebody with Tyreek's ability goes out you wonder what's going to happen,'' Mahomes said. "But the best thing about this team is whenever someone gets their opportunity, they step up and play. We really pick each other up. ... It was running backs, receivers, tight ends, whatever it was. That's just how we roll.''
Mahomes' 25 completions went to nine different receivers.
Mahomes could have had another touchdown pass and even more first-quarter yards but failed to connect on a no-look pass to Travis Kelce in the end zone. The Chiefs had to settle for a field goal on that drive.
"I owe him a dinner for that one,'' Mahomes said. "He ran a great route. ... I definitely tried to do a little too much on that play.''
Mahomes' first touchdown pass, of 68 yards to Sammy Watkins, came less than two minutes into the game. The Jaguars held Mahomes without a touchdown pass when the teams met last season. They were the only team to prevent Mahomes from throwing a TD in the regular season.
