The wait is over. The Kansas City Chiefs are back on the field, kicking off their journey toward another Super Bowl run with a preseason debut against the Arizona Cardinals. But this time, Andy Reid’s squad enters as the underdog.
Analysts expect Reid to start his first-string lineup, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce. However, many believe this won’t be enough to secure a win at State Farm Stadium.
On the Cardinals’ side, head coach Jonathan Gannon is also expected to start his top players for the opening offensive series. Quarterback Kyler Murray and his crew will likely get a couple of drives to warm up before handing the reins to the second and third-string units.
First quarter crucial for Kansas City
While preseason games don’t impact playoff standings, they offer valuable insights for coaches and analysts. Experts anticipate the Chiefs will dominate early while their starters are on the field, but momentum may shift once the backups take over.
From that point on, the Cardinals could take control. Some pundits even predict a potential Arizona win by as much as 17 points. Still, most expect a tight contest, with Mahomes and his offense possibly making a brief but meaningful impact.
Spotlight on the rookies
With only three preseason games on the schedule, time is tight for both coaching staffs and players. Starters must quickly find their rhythm, while rookies have limited opportunities to prove themselves.
Chiefs rookie offensive lineman Josh Simmons will need to step up and protect Mahomes. Meanwhile, Cardinals first-round pick Walter Nolen will aim to showcase his skills by challenging Simmons and pressuring the Chiefs’ star quarterback.
The stage is set for a competitive and entertaining matchup–preseason style.
Clayton Tune rush for a loss of 1 yard to the Ari38.
Tune only had to spend a minute and a half to secure his team’s victory in a typical preseason matchup. Since the starters left the field, the game became slow and error-ridden as the substitutes tried to climb the depth chart.
Clayton Tune rush for a loss of 1 yard to the Ari39.
Clayton Tune rush to the middle for 3 yards to the Ari40.
Two Minute Warning.
Chiefs timeout.
Zonovan Knight rush to the left for no gain to the Ari28.
Matt Araiza punts for 66 yards to Ari10. Xavier Weaver return for 18 yards to Ari28.
Chiefs timeout.
Two personal fouls cost the Chiefs 20 yards with less than three minutes left, virtually sealing the game.
Chris Oladokun incomplete pass to the middle intended for Elijah Young.
Chris Oladokun incomplete pass to the left.
Chris Oladokun incomplete pass to the left intended for Hal Presley III.
Chris Oladokun pass to the left to Mac Dalena for 5 yards to the KC39. Tackled by Jammie Robinson and Ekow Boye-Doe. Penalty: Face Mask on Chiefs (Mac Dalena) -15 yards.
Chris Oladokun rush to the middle for 26 yards to the KC49. Tackled by Steven Gilmore. Penalty: Unnecessary Roughness on Chiefs (Elijhah Badger) -15 yards.
Chris Oladokun rush for no gain to the KC23. FUMBLE, recovered by KC (Chris Oladokun). Chris Oladokun incomplete pass to the left intended for Hal Presley III.
Chris Oladokun incomplete pass to the left.
Chris Oladokun incomplete pass to the left intended for Hal Presley III.
Chris Oladokun rush to the middle for 26 yards to the KC49. Tackled by Steven Gilmore.
Chris Oladokun rush for no gain to the KC23. FUMBLE, recovered by KC (Chris Oladokun). Chris Oladokun pass to the left to Hal Presley III for 14 yards to the KC37. Tackled by Ekow Boye-Doe.
Chris Oladokun pass to the right to Key’Shawn Smith for 8 yards to the KC23. Tackled by Cody Simon and Jammie Robinson.
Chris Oladokun pass to the left to Elijhah Badger for a loss of 2 yards to the KC15. Tackled by Ekow Boye-Doe.
Elijah Young rush to the middle for 4 yards to the KC17. Tackled by Jammie Robinson.
Elijah Young rush to the middle for 1 yard to the KC13.
Oladokun needs to improve his field vision. Time and again, he leaves his receivers in the worst possible position, leading to costly losses of yardage.
Chris Oladokun pass to the right to Hal Presley III for 8 yards to the KC12.
Blake Gillikin punts for 41 yards to KC4. No return.
Tune’s offense hasn’t been able to get going at a good pace, but it continues to eat up time that the Chiefs will miss when they look to turn the score around.
Clayton Tune pass to the left to DeeJay Dallas for 1 yard to the KC45.
Clayton Tune incomplete pass to the left intended for Andre Baccellia.
DeeJay Dallas rush to the left for 2 yards to the KC46.
Zonovan Knight rush to the right for 27 yards to the KC38.
Clayton Tune incomplete pass to the left intended for Trishton Jackson.
Zonovan Knight rush to the left for 9 yards to the Ari35.
Zonovan Knight rush to the right for 6 yards to the Ari26.
Clayton Tune pass to the middle to Zonovan Knight for 10 yards to the Ari20.
Zonovan Knight rush to the right for 5 yards to the Ari10.
Matt Araiza punts for 54 yards to Ari4. No return.
Chris Oladokun incomplete pass to the right intended for Key’Shawn Smith.
Chiefs timeout.
Chris Oladokun incomplete pass to the right intended for Key’Shawn Smith.
Brashard Smith rush to the left for no gain to the KC42.
Chris Oladokun pass to the right to Elijhah Badger for 18 yards to the KC42.
Chris Oladokun pass to the left to Jared Wiley for 2 yards to the KC24. Tackled by Jaylon Jones.
Brashard Smith rush to the right for 6 yards to the KC38. Penalty: Holding on Chiefs (C.J. Hanson) -10 yards.
Chris Oladokun incomplete pass to the right intended for Jimmy Holiday.
Chad Ryland kicks off to the KC5. Skyy Moore return for 27 yards to KC32.
Ryland is emerging as the Cardinals’ MVP in this game. After Tune’s efficient performance at the end of the third quarter, the kicker gave Arizona a potentially decisive 20-17 lead.
Chad Ryland 50 yard field goal attempt is GOOD.
As Tune grew more confident on the field, he began to move Arizona’s offense. It’s the same story throughout the game: the Cardinals’ offense is better overall than the Chiefs’.
Michael Carter rush to the right for a loss of 1 yard to the KC32.
Clayton Tune pass to the left to Travis Vokolek for 8 yards to the KC31.
Michael Carter rush to the middle for 1 yard to the KC39.
Clayton Tune pass to the middle to Josiah Deguara for 13 yards to the Ari45. Penalty: Roughing Passer on Chiefs (Felix Anudike-Uzomah) 15 yards.
Michael Carter rush to the middle for 3 yards to the Ari32. Tackled by Malik Herring.
Michael Carter rush to the left for 5 yards to the Ari29.
Michael Carter rush to the right for 4 yards to the Ari24.
The pressure got the better of Zappe. With the team in the red zone, the Kansas City QB3 made three errors on consecutive plays, resulting in an interception in the end zone that could have cost his team the game.
Bailey Zappe pass intended for Mac Dalena INTERCEPTED by Kitan Crawford. No return. Touchback.
Bailey Zappe pass to the right to Brashard Smith for a loss of 6 yards to the Ari26.
Bailey Zappe incomplete pass to the left intended for Nikko Remigio.
Bailey Zappe pass to the right to Robert Tonyan for 10 yards to the Ari20.
Brashard Smith rush to the middle for 4 yards to the Ari30.
Bailey Zappe incomplete pass to the right intended for Mac Dalena.
Bailey Zappe pass to the left to Nikko Remigio for 18 yards to the Ari34.
Bailey Zappe pass to the right to Robert Tonyan for 19 yards to the KC48.
With the third stringers on the field, the game has become an exchange of errors that makes it difficult to try to predict the final outcome.
Blake Gillikin punts for 52 yards to KC23. Skyy Moore return for 6 yards to KC29.
Clayton Tune sacked at Ari25 for a loss of 9 yards by Janarius Robinson.
Clayton Tune incomplete pass to the left intended for Xavier Weaver.
Michael Carter rush to the left for 4 yards to the Ari34.
Harrison Butker kicks off to the Ari1. Andre Baccellia return for 29 yards to Ari30.
Harrison Butker 58 yard field goal attempt is GOOD.
Bailey Zappe rush to the right for 3 yards to the Ari40.
Bailey Zappe sacked at Ari43 for a loss of 7 yards.
Brashard Smith rush to the middle for 2 yards to the Ari36.
The new virtual measurement has been introduced to the game. The new technology seems to have shaved off a few seconds of gameplay, but fans seem to miss the old chain crew.
Brashard Smith rush to the middle for 4 yards to the Ari38.
Bailey Zappe pass to the left to Jimmy Holiday for 9 yards to the Ari42.
Bailey Zappe sacked at KC42 for a loss of 7 yards.
Tune entered the game cold. Now, the Cardinals will have to hope Zappe’s lack of execution works in their favor again and that the interception doesn’t show up on the scoreboard.
Clayton Tune pass intended for Tejhaun Palmer INTERCEPTED by Chris Roland-Wallace and returned for 10 yards. Tackled by Jake Curhan.
Michael Carter rush to the right for 3 yards to the Ari38.
Clayton Tune pass to the right to Travis Vokolek for 15 yards to the Ari35.
Matt Araiza punts for 58 yards to Ari0. Touchback.
Bailey Zappe incomplete pass to the right intended for Robert Tonyan.
Zappe missed another opportunity. Lacking accuracy or rhythm, the fourth-year quarterback gained just eight yards on the first drive of the second half.
Bailey Zappe pass to the right to Jimmy Holiday for 1 yard to the KC42. Tackled by Denzel Burke.
Bailey Zappe pass to the left to Nikko Remigio for 6 yards to the KC41.
Chad Ryland kicks off to the KC9. Jalen Royals return for 26 yards to KC35.
Bailey Zappe rush for a loss of 1 yard to the KC34.
Chad Ryland kicks off to the endzone. Touchback.
Chad Ryland extra point is GOOD.
The Cardinals finally got it done. Taking advantage of the opportunities the Chiefs’ defense gave them, Brisett turned the score around, giving the Chiefs’ head coach plenty to think about heading into the second half.
Jacoby Brissett pass to the right to Xavier Weaver for 1 yard for a TOUCHDOWN.
Cardinals timeout.
Jacoby Brissett incomplete pass to the left intended for Tejhaun Palmer.
Jacoby Brissett incomplete pass to the left intended for Elijah Higgins. Penalty: Holding on Chiefs (Chris Roland-Wallace) 0 yards.
Cardinals timeout.
Emari Demercado rush to the middle for 3 yards to the KC1.
Jacoby Brissett rush to the left for 11 yards to the KC4.
Cardinals timeout.
Jacoby Brissett pass to the left to Emari Demercado for 12 yards to the KC15.
Emari Demercado rush to the left for no gain to the KC27.
Jacoby Brissett incomplete pass to the right intended for Xavier Weaver. Penalty: Pass Interference on Chiefs (Nazeeh Johnson) 24 yards.
Chiefs timeout.
Emari Demercado rush to the left for 4 yards to the Ari49.
Jacoby Brissett pass to the right to Xavier Weaver for 13 yards to the Ari45.
Two Minute Warning.
Jacoby Brissett pass to the middle to Elijah Higgins for 11 yards to the Ari32.
Zappe doesn’t look comfortable with the Chiefs’ offense. Despite occasional flashes of good play, he hasn’t been able to move the chains consistently. The rest of the game will be hard for Kansas City if their QB3 can’t settle on the field.
Matt Araiza punts for 67 yards to Ari22. DeeJay Dallas – no return. FUMBLE, recovered by Ari (DeeJay Dallas).
Chiefs timeout.
Bailey Zappe incomplete pass to the right intended for Jason Brownlee.
Bailey Zappe incomplete pass to the middle intended for Skyy Moore.
Elijah Mitchell rush to the left for 3 yards to the KC11.
Penalty: False Start on Chiefs (Chukwuebuka Godrick) -5 yards.
Chad Ryland kicks off to the KC0. Nohl Williams return for 27 yards to KC27. Penalty: Illegal Block on Chiefs (Chris Roland-Wallace) -14 yards.
Although Brisett will be credited with the touchdown pass, the credit for the play goes to Demercado for his elusiveness and speed. Breaking a pair of tackles and leaving enemies in his wake, the second-string receiver is vying for a spot in the starting lineup.
Chad Ryland extra point is GOOD.
Jacoby Brissett pass to the right to Emari Demercado for 43 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
Trey Benson rush to the middle for 4 yards to the KC43.
Trey Benson rush to the left for a loss of 2 yards to the KC47.
Trey Benson rush to the middle for 2 yards to the Ari50. Penalty: Illegal Use of Hands on Chiefs (Ashton Gillotte) 5 yards.
Trey Benson rush to the left for 5 yards to the Ari48.
The interception was a tough blow for Zappe and the Chiefs. Turning the ball over when their QB3 was moving best and they seemed headed for a third touchdown took a heavy toll on the team’s morale.
Bailey Zappe pass intended for Jalen Royals INTERCEPTED by Darren Hall. No return.
Elijah Mitchell rush to the right for 1 yard to the KC37.
Bailey Zappe incomplete pass to the middle.
Elijah Mitchell rush to the middle for 6 yards to the KC36. Tackled by Anthony Goodlow.
Bailey Zappe pass to the right to Elijah Mitchell for 13 yards to the KC30.
Bailey Zappe incomplete pass to the right intended for Tyquan Thornton.
Brisett didn’t resonate with the Cardinals’ offense. The Chiefs managed to contain him on just three plays, drawing a big question mark on Arizona’s depth chart.
Blake Gillikin punts for 49 yards to KC10. Tyquan Thornton return for 7 yards to KC17. Tackled by Mykal Walker.
Jacoby Brissett incomplete pass to the middle intended for Greg Dortch.
Trey Benson rush to the left for 7 yards to the Ari41.
Jacoby Brissett incomplete pass to the right intended for Xavier Weaver.
Harrison Butker kicks off to the Ari13. DeeJay Dallas return for 21 yards to Ari34. Tackled by Jason Brownlee.
Harrison Butker extra point is GOOD.
When Minshew found his footing on the field and the Cardinals sent their reserves on defense, Kansas City doubled its lead to 14-3.
Gardner Minshew II rush to the left for 2 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
Gardner Minshew II incomplete pass to the right intended for Jalen Royals.
Carson Steele rush to the right for 3 yards to the Ari2.
Carson Steele rush to the left for 9 yards to the Ari5.
Gardner Minshew II pass to the right to Robert Tonyan for 20 yards to the Ari14.
Gardner Minshew II pass to the left to Jalen Royals for 6 yards to the Ari35.
Gardner Minshew II pass to the middle to Jalen Royals for 10 yards to the Ari40.
Carson Steele rush to the middle for 2 yards to the KC50.
Gardner Minshew II incomplete pass to the right.
Chad Ryland kicks off to the KC0. Nikko Remigio return for 48 yards to KC48. Tackled by Kei’Trel Clark.
Taking advantage of the first-quarter momentum, the Cardinals solidified their dominance of the game, but only with a field goal. Cutting into the lead might not be enough against a team like the Chiefs, even without Mahomes on the field.
Chad Ryland 33 yard field goal attempt is GOOD.
Trey Benson rush to the left for no gain to the KC15.
Kyler Murray pass to the left to Trey Benson for 20 yards to the KC15.
Trey Benson rush to the left for 8 yards to the KC12. Penalty: Unnecessary Roughness on Cardinals (Tip Reiman) -15 yards.
Trey Benson rush to the right for 4 yards to the KC20.
Aside from the interception against Murray, the Cardinals’ offense has looked much better than the Chiefs’. Murray has displayed dominance on the field and with the ball, repeatedly burning the Chiefs’ deep defense. The running game has also looked better, finding holes in Kansas City’s defensive line.
Kyler Murray pass to the right to Greg Dortch for 10 yards to the KC24.
Trey Benson rush to the left for no gain to the KC35.
Kyler Murray pass to the middle to Greg Dortch for 11 yards to the KC35.
Trey Benson rush to the left for 9 yards to the KC46.
Kyler Murray pass to the left to Tip Reiman for 6 yards to the Ari45.
Kyler Murray pass to the left to Trey McBride for 21 yards to the Ari39.
Matt Araiza punts for 40 yards to Ari9. Greg Dortch return for 10 yards to Ari19.
Arizona’s defense adjusted quickly to contain Minshew and the Chiefs’ second-string ofense. This doesn’t bode well for head coach Andy Reid in terms of roster depth.
Gardner Minshew II rush to the right for 2 yards to the Ari49.
Gardner Minshew II pass to the right to Jalen Royals for a loss of 1 yard to the KC49.
Gardner Minshew II rush for no gain to the Ari47. FUMBLE, recovered by KC (Noah Gray).
With the second team now on the field, the Chiefs’ offense looks less explosive but appears to have more control of the ball and the field, at least on their first drive.
Kareem Hunt rush to the right for 10 yards to the Ari47.
Kareem Hunt rush to the right for 2 yards to the KC43. Tackled by Budda Baker.
Gardner Minshew II pass to the left to Tyquan Thornton for 15 yards to the KC41. Tackled by Budda Baker.
Gardner Minshew II pass to the right to Kareem Hunt for 5 yards to the KC26.
Gardner Minshew II incomplete pass to the left intended for Kareem Hunt.
The Chiefs’ secondary comes to the rescue with an interception that makes two things clear: the defensive line needs more cohesion, and the defensive backs are ready to step up when needed.
Kyler Murray pass intended for Marvin Harrison Jr. INTERCEPTED by Jaden Hicks and returned for 12 yards.
The Cardinals reach the Red Zone. The Chiefs’ defense has significant holes in the frontcourt.
James Conner rush to the left for 7 yards to the KC17.
Kyler Murray rush to the right for 6 yards to the KC24.
Kyler Murray pass to the middle to Marvin Harrison Jr. for 15 yards to the KC30. Tackled by Nick Bolton.
James Conner rush to the right for 3 yards to the KC45.
Kyler Murray pass to the right to Michael Wilson for 12 yards to the KC48.
Kyler Murray rush to the middle for 3 yards to the Ari40.
James Conner rush to the middle for 1 yard to the Ari37.
Harrison Butker kicks off to the Ari5. DeeJay Dallas – no return. FUMBLE, recovered by Ari (Christian Jones).
Harrison Butker extra point is GOOD.
In just three plays, the Chiefs took a 7-0 lead, and Mahomes has his first touchdown pass of the year. We likely won’t see much more from Kansas City’s starting offense, but it’s a promising start to the regular season, which is less than a month away.
Patrick Mahomes pass to the right to Jason Brownlee for 1 yard for a TOUCHDOWN.
The Cardinals’ defense is showing the consequences of the long layoff. They committed two penalties in just one minute of play.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete pass to the left intended for Tyquan Thornton. Penalty: Pass Interference on Cardinals (Will Johnson) 4 yards.
Isiah Pacheco rush to the right for 8 yards to the Ari15.
Harrison Butker kicks off to the Ari3. Greg Dortch return for 20 yards to Ari23.
The game gets off to a bad start for the Cardinals. The kick returner fumbles, and the Chiefs recover it 13 yards from the end zone.
KICKOFF!!!!!
The game is about to start. Both teams have ended their warmup and the kickoff is within minutes.
What to watch in Kansas City
The running back rotation. Although star Isiah Pacheco appears to be a lock to start in Week 1, with Kareem Hunt as his primary backup, newcomer Elijah Mitchell saw some reps with the starting lineup during training camp.
Mitchell had a lackluster 2024 performance with the San Francisco 49ers, but head coach Andy Reid trusted him not only to sign him as a free agent but also to offload some of the running game responsibility to him during practice. It remains to be seen if he receives the same trust in the game against the Cardinals.
Andy Reid entering the field for the warmup work.
What to watch in Arizona
The Cardinals’ cornerbacks will have a tough afternoon against Patrick Mahomes and his revamped receiving corps. The Cards’ cornerback rotation during training camp raised eyebrows among analysts, with Will Johnson and Max Melton starting, but Kei’Trel Clark and Denzel Burke sharing the starting lineup.
With a quarterback like Mahomes in front of them, this could be the moment defensive coordinator Nick Rallis determines who will be the final starter.
Chiefs are the oddsmakers favorites:
Player to watch in Kansas City
Beyond Patrick Mahomes or Travis Kelce, the eyes of fans and coaches will be on rookie Josh Simmons. The team selected the former Buckeyes star in the first round of the 2025 Draft with the specific mission of protecting Mahomes, and although he will initially be the backup to veteran Jaylon Moore, a good performance during the preseason could catapult him into the starting role by Week 1.
What’s more, Simmons could have an electrifying duel in the trenches with Cardinals rookie defensive tackle Walter Nolen.
Rookie Will Johnson arriving at State Farm Stadium.
Player to watch in Arizona
The pressure will be on Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray after his nightmare in 2024. Last year, Arizona only had 34 plays of at least 20 yards, one of the lowest in the league, raising serious questions about Murray’s arm.
The six-year veteran will have to prove he’s over the hump, as veteran Jacoby Brissett is breathing down his neck to win the starting job.
Xavier Worthy has arrived at the State Farm Stadium.
Kickoff/Tip off from State Farm Stadium and odds
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. CST / 5:00 p.m. PT)
The Chiefs are the bookmakers’ favorites by 2.5 points.
Spread
– Chiefs -2.5 (-120): Favored by a field goal.
– Cardinals +2.5 (+100): Keep it close and you’re golden!
Moneyline
– Chiefs -145: Bet $145 to win $100 if KC takes it.
– Cardinals +125: $100 wins $125 if AZ pulls the upset!
Total Points (O/U 40.5)
– OVER (-105): Expect fireworks? Bet $105 to win $100.
– UNDER (-115): Defensive battle? $115 wins $100.
Who you got?
Where to watch Chiefs vs. Cardinals on TV
KSHIB-TV (Channel 41) will broadcast live from State Farm Stadium, with Ari Wolfe providing play-by-play and Trent Green providing analysis. Kimmi Chex will be the sideline reporter.
Mahomes’s new protector vs. Cardinals’ defensive beast–NFL rookies face off today
This is the moment they’ve been waiting for. For the rookies of the Kansas City Chiefs and Arizona Cardinals, the race to earn a spot on the starting lineup–or even secure a place on the roster–kicks off this afternoon at State Farm Stadium.
The Chiefs and Cardinals open their preseason in Glendale, Arizona, following an intense offseason where rookies worked hard to showcase their skills to their respective coaching staffs.
Kansas City’s training camp buzzed with updates, especially surrounding first-round pick Josh Simmons. On the Arizona side, coverage was more subdued, but defensive tackle Walter Nolen managed to leave a strong impression.
Simmons vs. Nolen: rookie showdown in the desert
Josh Simmons is Kansas City’s top hope to protect Patrick Mahomes’s blindside. The Ohio State standout is coming off a stellar college career, but experts expect him to begin the season as a backup to veteran Jaylon Moore–unless he can change head coach Andy Reid’s mind during the preseason.
Nolen, meanwhile, has flown under the media radar, but the former Ole Miss star could earn a starting role as early as Week 1. To do so, he’ll need to convince Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon that he’s ready for the challenge.
If Simmons and Nolen face off on the field, fans could witness a thrilling rookie duel–Simmons defending Mahomes, and Nolen proving why he was the 16th overall pick in the 2025 Draft.
Other rookies to watch
Chiefs fans can expect to see defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott and defensive end Ashton Gillotte, selected in the second and third rounds, get some reps. For the Cardinals, cornerback Will Johnson and defensive tackle Jordan Burch are also expected to take the field.
With the shortened three-game preseason format, the rest of the 2025 rookie class may have limited opportunities to shine. Still, coaches will be eager to evaluate their new talent in live action, making this afternoon’s game a crucial proving ground for these young players.
Read the full article here
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