GLENDALE, Ariz. - Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes looked in midseason form Sunday.
The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback picked apart the Arizona Cardinals defense on the way to a 44-21 rout at State Farm Stadium. Mahomes went 30-of-39 passing, threw for 360 yards and tossed five touchdowns in the victory.
"The whole offseason everyone was asking us what this team was going to look like," Mahomes said after the win. "We always believed we were going to go out there and put on a show."
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The questions Mahomes referenced predominantly surrounded Kansas City's offense and how it would operate without the speed and big-play ability of wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who moved to the Miami Dolphins in the offseason. If Sunday's game is any indication, the Chiefs will be just fine without Hill.
Mahomes and company proved they were diverse and versatile with nine different players catching passes from the Chiefs starting quarterback against the Cardinals.
"With the amount of tight ends, running backs and receivers that we have, it's gonna be everything. It's gonna be a lot of guys catching passes," Mahomes said. "It's gonna be running the football, throwing the football, it's gonna be short game and deep passes.
"It makes us a harder offense to stop."
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Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce had a game-high eight catches for 121 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster tallied six catches for 79 yards. And running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire produced two touchdown catches out of the backfield. The three led a balanced offensive attack through the Chiefs' 39 passing and 27 rushing attempts.
"All smiles," Kelce said after the win. "Everyone was out there flying around."
But that joy was almost exclusive to the visiting team. Many Arizona fans headed toward the exits midway through the third quarter with the game already decided.
Following the Chiefs' league-best eight consecutive season-opening wins, players discussed having something to show for after last year's disappointing loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship.
"Who wouldn't have something to prove after going out the way we did," Edwards-Helaire said.
It wasn't all offense either from the Chiefs. Kansas City's defense held Kyler Murray and the Cardinals to just one touchdown in the first half, while the Chiefs offense amassed 488 total yards and 33 first downs in the victory.
It's not lost on the team that where they kicked off the season Sunday is also the site of this year's Super Bowl. The Chiefs' season could come full circle, especially with their goal of total domination.
"I always have the mindset of going out there and proving that we are the Kansas City Chiefs," Mahomes said. "We still have a chance to go out there and win the AFC Championship, win the AFC West and win the Super Bowl."
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on Twitter @TheTylerDragon.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kansas City Chiefs 'all smiles' after dominating win against Arizona Cardinals