Sam Mellinger: Chiefs 35, Jets 9: A stellar day for Patrick Mahomes at Arrowhead

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce celebrates his second quarter touchdown against the New York Jets by dunking the ball over the goalpost on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jill Toyoshiba/The Kansas City Star/TNS)

This is a weird game to talk about, sort of like a race between a sports car and a tree, so we might as well get the disclaimer out of the way here at the top: The Jets are a mess of a professional football team. They have an overmatched head coach and an undermanned roster.

Honestly, the Chiefs might get more of a challenge from scout-team looks during practice.

But the Chiefs can only play the teams on their league-issued schedule, and so it was that they gave the world a 35-9 win over the Jets Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, a victory so thorough that for a second consecutive week the Chiefs did not need Patrick Mahomes to finish the fourth quarter.

New York Jets punter Braden Mann attempts to catch Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman after safety Armani Watts blocked a field goal attempt late in the second quarter which Hardman recovered on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jill Toyoshiba/The Kansas City Star/TNS)

An empire built on parity is incapable of offering a bigger mismatch, which should be remembered with any analysis of this game. OK. Consider us properly disclaimer'd, and we'll focus the rest of this space on trends that are important when the Chiefs play better opponents.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates with wide receiver Mecole Hardman after Hardman ran in a touchdown in the first quarter against the New York Jets on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jill Toyoshiba/The Kansas City Star/TNS)

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill hauls in a 41-yard touchdown reception while defended by New York Jets safety Ashtyn Davis in the fourth quarter on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jill Toyoshiba/The Kansas City Star/TNS)

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill celebrates his first quarter touchdown against the New York Jets after he jumped into the stands on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jill Toyoshiba/The Kansas City Star/TNS)

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman spikes the ball after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the New York Jets on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jill Toyoshiba/The Kansas City Star/TNS)

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill hauls in a 41-yard touchdown reception while defended by New York Jets safety Ashtyn Davis in the fourth quarter on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jill Toyoshiba/The Kansas City Star/TNS)

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill hauls in a 41-yard touchdown reception while defended by New York Jets safety Ashtyn Davis in the fourth quarter on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jill Toyoshiba/The Kansas City Star/TNS)

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton sacks New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold in the second quarter on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jill Toyoshiba/The Kansas City Star/TNS)

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman runs in for a touchdown in the first quarter against the New York Jets on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jill Toyoshiba/The Kansas City Star/TNS)