Jaguars stun Chiefs 31-28 in Week 5 MNF; Mahomes' streak ends

When Patrick Mahomes, quarterback of Kansas City Chiefs, watched his 14‑point cushion dissolve on Monday night, the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrated a 31‑28 upset at home.

Game Overview and Key Moments

During Monday Night FootballJacksonville, the Chiefs struck first, forcing a goal‑line fumble from Trevor Lawrence and converting it into a 97‑yard touchdown drive that put them up 14‑0. The early surge looked like another step toward extending their longest active streak of winning games when leading by 14 points.

But the Jaguars answered back with a 99‑yard interception return by linebacker Devin Lloyd. That play swung momentum, and Lawrence soon rattled off a 30‑yard scramble and a short pass to Jackson Miller for a go‑ahead field goal. Jacksonville kept the pressure on, trading scores and eventually sealing the win with a 23‑yard rushing touchdown by Travis Etienne.

Here's the thing: the Chiefs' defense never really recovered after the Lloyd pick‑six. They allowed 31 points, a total that would have been respectable against most teams but felt like a disaster given Kansas City's early dominance.

Inactives and Pre‑Game Context

The night’s drama unfolded against a backdrop of notable absences. The Jaguars listed defensive lineman Khalen Saunders Jr. and rookie defensive end Danny Striggow among their inactives, though the full roster was not released in the immediate post‑game coverage. Kansas City’s inactive list was similarly sketchy, with the team opting not to disclose every name before kickoff. What mattered, however, was that both squads entered the game missing a handful of depth players, a factor that often becomes crucial in a tight, high‑stakes contest.

Fans in Jacksonville were treated to a palpable electric atmosphere; the stadium lights seemed brighter after the Jaguars erased the early deficit, turning a routine Monday night into a memorable showdown.

Statistical Breakdown

• Final score: Jaguars 31, Chiefs 28.
• Turnovers: Chiefs 2 (including Lloyd’s 99‑yard pick‑six), Jaguars 1.
• Total yards: Chiefs 425, Jaguars 388.
• Penalties: Chiefs penalized 9 times for 85 yards; Jaguars 6 for 55 yards.
• Third‑down conversions: Chiefs 7 of 15, Jaguars 6 of 14.

Those numbers reveal a classic pattern for the 2025 Chiefs: they can rack up yards and first downs, yet penalties and costly mistakes keep them from converting early leads into victories.

Reactions from Coaches and Players

After the final whistle, Mahomes took the mic at the team’s locker room and said to ESPN, “Obviously, it sucks. You let a game slip away. It still sucks whenever you get a lead and you’re not able to hold it.” He added, “We have the guys and we’ve executed at certain points, but we crush ourselves with penalties and mistakes. In this league, it’s so close that those moments change games.”

Head coach Andy Reid, who stepped in after the mid‑season firing of the previous coach, tried to keep a steady tone. “We gave the Jaguars everything they wanted after the first quarter,” Reid said. “Our job is to finish what we start, and today we fell short. We’ll learn from this and get better.”

On the other side, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson praised his defense. “Devin’s interception was a game‑changing play, but credit goes to the whole unit that kept us in it,” Pederson remarked. “Trevor showed poise after the early turnover, and the offense kept punching. This win proves we can beat anyone when we play our football.”

Implications for the Chiefs and Jaguars

The loss snaps Kansas City’s 22‑game streak of winning when leading by at least 14 points, the second‑longest active streak behind Detroit’s 26‑game run. More importantly, it marks the third one‑score defeat for the Chiefs in Week 5 of the 2025 season—a stark regression from their 2024 campaign, in which they eked out a record 11 one‑score victories, the most in NFL history.

For the Jaguars, the win pushes them to a 3‑2 record and puts them back in the AFC South hunt. The 99‑yard pick‑six will likely be replayed on highlight reels all season, and it demonstrates that Jacksonville’s defense can produce game‑changing moments against elite opponents.

What’s next? The Chiefs travel to Denver for Week 6, where they’ll need to tighten discipline and protect the ball if they hope to preserve a playoff seed. The Jaguars, meanwhile, host the Indianapolis Colts next Sunday, looking to ride this momentum and secure a divisional edge.

Historical Perspective

Chiefs fans remember the 2021 Week 17 victory over Cincinnati, the last time the team held a double‑digit lead and still won. Since then, the franchise has built a reputation for clutch performances, yet the 2025 season is already exposing cracks in that armor. The 14‑point collapse in Jacksonville may be a turning point, prompting a reassessment of coaching strategy, roster depth, and penalty discipline.

For Jacksonville, beating a perennial powerhouse on a national stage bolsters a young core that includes Lawrence, Etienne, and defensive playmaker Liam Eichenberg. It also adds a rare win against a team that finished the previous season with the league’s best record.