New York Jets vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 2020 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2020 NFL season on 2020-11-01, the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business against the New York Jets, pulling away with a 35–9 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) paced the passing game, with +27.69 total EPA, and +8.5% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +27.69 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+9.6% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Kansas City Chiefs changed the game: (2:09) (Punt formation) 5-T.Townsend pass short left to 13-B.Pringle to NYJ 36 for 13 yards (35-P.Desir).

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 P. Mahomes · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +27.69 total EPA · 42 snaps · +0.66 EPA/play
2. 2 M. Hardman · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +8.44 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.94 EPA/play
3. 3 T. Hill · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +8.35 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.39 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Kelce · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +6.83 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Robinson · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +3.95 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
6. 6 T. Townsend · Kansas City Chiefs · Passing · +3.45 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.45 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Mims · New York Jets · Receiving · +2.61 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.87 EPA/play
8. 8 L. Bell · Kansas City Chiefs · Receiving · +2.47 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.82 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Kansas City Chiefs — M. Hardman (P. Mahomes pass) (Q1 56:15)
• Kansas City Chiefs — T. Hill (P. Mahomes pass) (Q1 46:24)
• Kansas City Chiefs — T. Kelce (P. Mahomes pass) (Q2 31:02)
• Kansas City Chiefs — D. Robinson (P. Mahomes pass) (Q3 17:23)
• Kansas City Chiefs — T. Hill (P. Mahomes pass) (Q4 11:04)

Field goals

• New York Jets — S. Castillo (Q1 49:43)
• New York Jets — S. Castillo (Q2 43:08)
• New York Jets — S. Castillo (Q2 33:00)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 14–3. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the NYJ 30 (Q1 56:15) — (11:15) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 17-M.Hardman for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the NYJ 15 (Q1 56:08) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.; New York Jets connected on a field goal from the KC 21 (Q1 49:43) — (4:43) 6-S.Castillo 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-T.Hennessy, Holder-7-B.Mann.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the NYJ 36 (Q1 46:24) — (1:24) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep right to 10-T.Hill for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the NYJ 15 (Q1 46:17) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

The second quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–6. New York Jets connected on a field goal from the KC 37 (Q2 43:08) — (13:08) 6-S.Castillo 55 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-T.Hennessy, Holder-7-B.Mann.; New York Jets connected on a field goal from the KC 30 (Q2 33:00) — (3:00) 6-S.Castillo 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-T.Hennessy, Holder-7-B.Mann.; Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the NYJ 3 (Q2 31:02); Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the NYJ 15 (Q2 30:58) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

The third quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–0. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the NYJ 26 (Q3 17:23); Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the NYJ 15 (Q3 17:15) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

The fourth quarter: Kansas City Chiefs won the period 7–0. Kansas City Chiefs found the end zone from the NYJ 41 (Q4 11:04) — (11:04) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep left to 10-T.Hill for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Kansas City Chiefs added 1 points from the NYJ 15 (Q4 10:58) — 7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 47:09) — (2:09) (Punt formation) 5-T.Townsend pass short left to 13-B.Pringle to NYJ 36 for 13 yards (35-P.Desir). [WPA +9.6% · EPA +3.45]
• New York Jets (Q2 33:00) — (3:00) 6-S.Castillo 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-T.Hennessy, Holder-7-B.Mann. [WPA +8.6% · EPA +1.32]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 46:24) — (1:24) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep right to 10-T.Hill for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +7.6% · EPA +3.23]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 56:52) — (11:52) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short left to 26-L.Bell pushed ob at NYJ 30 for 18 yards (93-T.Basham). [WPA +6.7% · EPA +1.64]
• New York Jets (Q2 43:08) — (13:08) 6-S.Castillo 55 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-T.Hennessy, Holder-7-B.Mann. [WPA +6.7% · EPA +2.38]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• New York Jets (Q3 15:23) — (:23) (Shotgun) 14-S.Darnold pass short middle to 89-C.Herndon to NYJ 42 for 3 yards (49-D.Sorensen). FUMBLES (49-D.Sorensen), RECOVERED by KC-21-B.Breeland at NYJ 42. [WPA -1.3% · EPA -4.83]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q4 11:04) — (11:04) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep left to 10-T.Hill for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.2% · EPA +4.73]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q3 22:20) — (7:20) (Shotgun) 26-L.Bell up the middle to NYJ 14 for no gain (96-H.Anderson). [WPA -1.9% · EPA -3.85]
• Kansas City Chiefs (Q1 47:09) — (2:09) (Punt formation) 5-T.Townsend pass short left to 13-B.Pringle to NYJ 36 for 13 yards (35-P.Desir). [WPA +9.6% · EPA +3.45]

Quarterback report card

P.Mahomes led all passers in efficiency for Kansas City Chiefs, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• P.Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) · 42 dropbacks · 73.8% completion · +8.5% CPOE · +0.66 EPA/play · +27.69 total EPA
• S.Darnold (New York Jets) · 35 dropbacks · 51.4% completion · -3.6% CPOE · -0.25 EPA/play · -8.89 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Kansas City Chiefs held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.19 vs -0.14), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Kansas City Chiefs: 10 drives, +15.83 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• New York Jets: 11 drives, -10.13 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Kansas City Chiefs leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• P. Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• P. Mahomes (KC) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• S. Darnold (NYJ) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q1 56:15 · NYJ 30 · Score 0-6
   (11:15) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short middle to 17-M.Hardman for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q1 56:08 · NYJ 15 · Score 0-7
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
3. New York Jets FG (+3) — Q1 49:43 · KC 21 · Score 3-7
   (4:43) 6-S.Castillo 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-T.Hennessy, Holder-7-B.Mann.
4. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q1 46:24 · NYJ 36 · Score 3-13
   (1:24) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep right to 10-T.Hill for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q1 46:17 · NYJ 15 · Score 3-14
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
6. New York Jets FG (+3) — Q2 43:08 · KC 37 · Score 6-14
   (13:08) 6-S.Castillo 55 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-T.Hennessy, Holder-7-B.Mann.
7. New York Jets FG (+3) — Q2 33:00 · KC 30 · Score 9-14
   (3:00) 6-S.Castillo 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-T.Hennessy, Holder-7-B.Mann.
8. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q2 31:02 · NYJ 3 · Score 9-20
   (1:02) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass short right to 87-T.Kelce for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on KC-87-T.Kelce, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced betwe
9. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q2 30:58 · NYJ 15 · Score 9-21
   7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
10. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q3 17:23 · NYJ 26 · Score 9-27
    (2:23) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep left to 11-D.Robinson for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on NYJ-31-B.Austin, Illegal Contact, declined.
11. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q3 17:15 · NYJ 15 · Score 9-28
    7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.
12. Kansas City Chiefs TD (+6) — Q4 11:04 · NYJ 41 · Score 9-34
    (11:04) (Shotgun) 15-P.Mahomes pass deep left to 10-T.Hill for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Kansas City Chiefs XP (+1) — Q4 10:58 · NYJ 15 · Score 9-35
    7-H.Butker extra point is GOOD, Center-41-J.Winchester, Holder-5-T.Townsend.