The Kansas City Chiefs host the 4-1 Detroit Lions at Arrowhead Stadium in a showdown Patrick Mahomes knows will require near perfection to pull out a victory.

With the Lions firing on all cylinders offensively and complementing it with a sharp, disciplined defense, Kansas City realizes it must execute flawlessly in all three phases to stay competitive against Detroit.

After falling 31-28 to the Jacksonville Jaguars, where 13 penalties and a costly Mahomes interception proved decisive, the Chiefs can’t afford a repeat performance — or things could unravel quickly.

And rest assured, Mahomes understands the magnitude of Week 6.

“It’s huge,” Mahomes said. “There’s no sugarcoating it. We’re up against a really good football team that competes hard every snap. They play with attitude, and they expect to win. We have to match that energy. We have to bring that same edge, and it’s going to take our best effort across offense, defense, and special teams.

“We need to show it on Sunday. Step on the field ready to fight, no matter how tough it gets, and find a way to win.”

Could this be a season-defining battle for Kansas City?

At 2-3, there’s no need for panic just yet, but in the broader Super Bowl context, if the Chiefs get blown out by Detroit at home, it could spark serious questions about their status among the league’s elite contenders.

However, a win — just like after the Baltimore Ravens matchup — would shift the conversation back toward the Chiefs being legitimate title threats and reaffirm faith in Mahomes’ ability to lead another Super Bowl run.

A great deal rides on this one for Kansas City, and while the offense has shown signs of life recently, that progress must continue if the Chiefs hope to topple a surging Lions squad.