(TSX / STATS) — CINCINNATI — Patrick Mahomes bolstered his case for the Kansas City Chiefs’ backup quarterback job, passing for 88 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-12 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday night at Paul Brown Stadium.
Tight end Demetrius Harris caught two touchdown passes and rookie Kareem Hunt, a third-round pick out of Toledo, rushed for 40 yards on eight carries for the Chiefs.
Running back Charcandrick West continued his bid for a roster spot, rushing for 113 yards on seven carries and helping the Chiefs amass 413 yards of total offense.
The Bengals’ offense got off to a fast start, but their defense struggled to contain the Chiefs.
A 22-yard completion from Andy Dalton to A.J. Green set up Randy Bullock’s 47-yard field goal to put Cincinnati ahead 3-0.
The Bengals’ first-team defense gave up drives of 70 and 46 yards against the Chiefs’ first-teamers. Kansas City also had a 75-yard drive in the half and scored on each of its three first-half possessions.
The Chiefs marched 70 yards before settling for a Sam Ficken field goal. Kansas City converted a fourth-and-1 at the 12-yard line and Harris caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Alex Smith to put KC ahead 10-3.
Smith was 8-of-9 passing for 54 yards on the two drives.
Harris caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to make the score 16-6, after Ficken missed the point-after attempt.
Three Chiefs quarterbacks threw touchdown passes and finished with a combined passer rating of 130.1.
De’Anthony Thomas caught a 7-yard scoring pass from Mahomes.
Chiefs cornerback Eric Murray intercepted an AJ McCarron pass to set up an 18-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Bray to Seantavius Jones to make the score 30-9 in the third quarter.
McCarron, the Bengals’ backup quarterback, was 8 of 15 for 93 yards and an interception.
Cincinnati’s kicker battle heated up with Bullock making field goals of 47 and 26 yards and Jake Elliott connecting on tries of 32 and 39.
Bengals backup safety Shawn Williams left the game in the second quarter with a right elbow injury and did not return.
Wide receiver John Ross, the Bengals’ first-round draft choice this year, was cleared to practice Monday but did not play. He’s recovering from a shoulder injury suffered in college.