Over the past few years, the Kansas City Chiefs have discovered a tried-and-true method: Whenever in doubt, give the ball to Patrick Mahomes.
After the two-minute warning in Sunday’s 19–17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, Mahomes had the ball on third down at the Chargers’ 20-yard line. Curiously, the Chiefs chose to call a pass play instead of running the ball when they were down one point and wanted to run out the clock to shoot a walk-off field goal that may win the game.
Mahomes specifically chose to call the play. The Kansas City quarterback persuaded Andy Reid to let him pass with this straightforward line just before the Chiefs’ 3rd-and-7 snap:
“I’ll make something happen,” Mahomes said, via Nate Taylor of The Athletic.
Mahomes. Kelce. FIRST DOWN.
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And he did.
Mahomes found Travis Kelce for a pivotal nine-yard gain and a new set of downs after juking out one Chargers defender. After then, the Chargers would not see the ball, and kicker Matthew Wright would complete the Chiefs’ thrilling victory—possibly with a little assistance from supernatural forces.
Simply put it on the list of critical plays that Mahomes has ever made.