The Chiefs took a late lead after the Lions failed to convert on fourth down near midfield. It took some defensive penalties to get there, as the Lions and their short-handed defense were holding strong.

Expert recap and game analysis of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Detroit Lions NFL game from October 12, 2025 on ESPN.

If Bates had made the kick, it would have broken a the NFL record for longest field goal, a mark that's currently held by Tucker. The former Ravens kicker drilled a 66-yard field goal back in 2021 in a game that actually came against the Lions.

The Detroit Lions started Sunday Night Football with a bang, driving for nearly 10 minutes and scoring on a hilarious trick play.

It was about as much fight as the Lions showed all night. Instead, the Chiefs shut down the prolific Detroit offense, holding it to less than half its season scoring average, and their own offense romped up and down the field on the way to a 30-17 victory Sunday night.

Patrick Mahomes, with Taylor Swift on site, threw a trio of scores and ran for another as the Kansas City Chiefs topped the Detroit Lions at home.