The Chiefs couldn’t have gotten off to a better start in Cleveland: After a touchback on the opening kickoff, Kansas City running back Jamaal Charles took a handoff on the game’s first play from scrimmage and raced 80 yards for a touchdown.
Charles wasn’t done there, as he picked up 23 more yards in the first quarter, topping 100 yards before even 15 minutes had been played. Unfortunately, Charles’s running is the only thing that has gone well for the Chiefs.
Kansas City may have lost receiver Dwayne Bowe, who took a hit to the ribs and went down in pain, and appeared to be vomiting on the field. Bowe went to the locker room and was described as questionable to return.
The Chiefs’ defense also let the Browns’ offense march down the field and kick a field goal, and then the Chiefs’ special teams allowed Travis Benjamin to return a punt 93 yards for a touchdown. That was the longest punt return in Browns franchise history, and it gave the Browns a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter.
UPDATE 1:51 p.m. ET: And just as we were publishing this, Charles went down hard and suffered an apparent shoulder injury. But Charles was able to return.