Kenneth Walker fuels Chiefs rebound with 143-yard, three-touchdown performance
Kansas City snapped a two-game losing streak by dismantling the Jets, who were held to minus-9 yards of offense in the third quarter.
By Justin Barnes ·
Kenneth Walker rushed and caught 143 total yards and scored three touchdowns to lead the Kansas City Chiefs to a 35-12 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday. The win erased back-to-back defeats for Kansas City, improving their record to 6-2 while dropping New York to 2-7.
Walker was the primary offensive threat for the Chiefs, who had been held in check in previous weeks against Seattle and Denver. He caught a touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter and added a 25-yard screen reception later in the half. In the third quarter, he carried the ball six times on an 82-yard drive that ended with a rushing score, extending his career total of three-touchdown games to three.
The Jets struggled to sustain drives, particularly in the second half. Their offense was credited with minus-9 yards during the third quarter, a period in which Kansas City scored twice. The margin grew from a 14-12 halftime lead to 28-12 after Walker’s rushing touchdown, effectively deciding the outcome before the final period began.
Geno Smith passed for 165 yards for New York but faced five sacks from the Chiefs' defense. The Jets were forced to rely on short passes to rookie receiver Omar Cooper Jr. and rushing attempts by Braelon Allen or Breece Hall. Hall returned from a quadriceps injury for the first time in five games, though the team lacked its star wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who was inactive with a concussion.
Special teams played a decisive role in the first half. Kansas City kicker Jason Sanders converted four field goals in the first 30 minutes, missing only a 53-yard attempt with under a minute remaining in the half. In contrast, New York kicker Harrison Butker missed two attempts from 56 yards, including a redo after a penalty, leaving the Jets without any extra points from the leg in the opening 30 minutes.
The Chiefs also overcame their own special teams and quarterback errors. Backup quarterback Justin Fields fumbled a sneak attempt, and Patrick Mahomes lost possession after a sack by Jets defensive end David Bailey. Mahomes finished with 242 passing yards and two touchdown passes, both to Walker. The Chiefs have now won three straight meetings against New York and will face the Buffalo Bills at home next Sunday.
