Chiefs’ first preseason game: What mattered in Saturday’s opener

The Kansas City Chiefs dropped their preseason opener 20-17 to the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night, but the night delivered quick-strike proof-of-concept from the starters, standout rookie moments, and a long look at roster battles that will define the next two weeks.

The scoreboard and the spark

  • Arizona rallied to beat Kansas City 20-17 in the preseason opener on Saturday, overcoming a 14-3 Chiefs lead to close it out late.
  • Patrick Mahomes authored a vintage red-zone strike early, dropping a back-shoulder touchdown to Jason Brownlee to cap a crisp opening look from the first-team offense.

Defense sets the early tone

  • Rookie safety Jaden Hicks snatched an interception off Kyler Murray in the opening minutes, a play that punctuated an opportunistic start from Steve Spagnuolo’s unit.
  • Kansas City’s defense forced multiple first-half mistakes and limited explosive downfield shots; Arizona did most of its damage with catch-and-run plays and screens.

Special teams and Butker’s range

  • Harrison Butker drilled a 58-yard field goal to tie the game in the second half, flashing midseason leg strength in the desert air.
  • Punter Matt Araiza uncorked a 67-yard bomb in field-position ball, one of the night’s most eye-popping single plays.

Who helped themselves

  • Jaden Hicks, S: The interception and active run support reinforced his push for early rotational snaps in a fluid safety room.
  • Jason Brownlee, WR: Strong body control on the back-shoulder touchdown from Mahomes stood out in a crowded receiver competition.
  • Josh Simmons, OT: In limited first-team work, the rookie’s anchor and balance held up, a positive first box-check in his NFL debut action.

Work in progress

  • Interior DL: Rookie Omar Norman-Lott had a quieter outing, with coaches likely looking for more initial burst and anchor as the preseason continues.
  • Slot/CB mix: The slot corner rotation remains unsettled, and some underneath spacing issues surfaced on Arizona screens and quick game.

The takeaway

  • The Chiefs left with a healthy first team, a precise Mahomes touchdown, and a defensive takeaway—exactly the kind of preseason markers Andy Reid values far more than the final score.
  • Arizona’s late push flipped the result, but Kansas City’s biggest wins were early offensive rhythm, Butker’s long-range confidence, and rookies flashing in real reps.