Kansas City Chiefs 45-10 Detroit Lions

Sunday 1 November 2015

Wembley Stadium

Kansas City Chiefs brought down the curtain on the 2015 NFL International Series in style, with a crushing 45-10 victory against Detroit Lions.

More than a quarter of a million people passed through the gates of Wembley Stadium Connected by EE over the course of the three-game series - the ninth instalment since the NFL first came to the national stadium in 2007.

What had begun as a foggy morning in London turned into a perfect early winter’s afternoon as fans from Europe, America and beyond came to the capital for the gridiron extravaganza. 

So as the mist cleared and sun the beamed down on the arch, the Chiefs set about sealing their third victory of the season on this their first visit to the UK.

It was a performance that head coach Andy Reid referred to after the game as 'phenomenal'. 

“I think we played as a team, and all three phases contributed," he said after the 35-point success. 

"Special teams contributed, we were spot on with our plays. The players came out with a certain focus, you could sense that at Friday practice and it transferred to our play on the pitch today. We stepped up and played. It was a phenomenal performance." 

In truth, a glance at the pre-game standings would have indicated that the contest was likely to be a one-sided affair - and a one-sided affair it proved to be.

So much was Kansas City’s dominance, that at half-time quarterback Alex Smith had recorded more rushing yards than the combined total of the Detroit Lions' offence.

It had begun well for the Lions though. Matt Prater converted a 35-yard field goal after a 10-play 63-yard drive from the Lions - who were returning to Wembley for the second consecutive year.

However Prater - who had been the hero in London 12 months earlier after converting a last-minute field goal to give the Lions a dramatic 22-21 victory against the Atlanta Falcons - will not look back on his second visit to Wembley with quite as much glee.

That was because, following his opening score in the first quarter, it would not be until deep into the fourth before he was once again putting points on the board for the Lions.

By the time he converted Lance Moore’s touchdown with seven minutes remaining, the Chiefs had 38 points on the board and were in cruise control.

The Lions lead did not last long as De’Anthony Thomas - one of the game’s standout performers - ran 10 yards into the end zone to put the Chiefs into the lead.

The kick, as it was all afternoon, was converted by Cairo Santos - a 23-year-old Brazilian-born kicker who learned his skills on the soccer fields of Sao Paolo before turning his talents to American Football while studying in Florida.

Five more touchdowns followed - including a 12-yard shotgun dash from quarterback Smith, his eighth of the season.

Further scores from Charcandrick West, Travis Kelce, Jeremy Maclin and Spencer Ware - as well as a 33-yard field goal from Santos - and Detroit were consigned to their second defeat in as many games.

In all, there were six different touchdown scorers, and coach Reid could not hide his delighted at the performance - and the reception his side has received throughout their London experience.

“Win or lose, we’ve enjoyed being here and the people were phenomenal,” he continued.

“The fans were phenomenal from Kansas too - and I saw every other team here in the jerseys represented and it seems England has really taken to the NFL.

“We know soccer and rugby are always going to be ahead here, but we are grateful for the opportunity to come here and play our sport.

“We appreciate the hospitably that England has given us, it’s been phenomenal. It’s a long way to go for a home game, but it’s enjoyable, and it was a great result." 

So as the city's baseball team close in on a first World Series since 1985, with performances such as that, the Kansas City Chiefs' fans may well be jetting back across the Atlantic in the coming days dreaming of potential Super Bowl glory for their football side too, when the 50th edition of the world's greatest show takes place in Florida on 7 February 2016.