Patrick Mahomes isn’t buying the idea that the Chiefs are somehow scared to run a quarterback sneak.
That debate flared up again after Kansas City came up short against the Broncos on Sunday in the Mile High City, even with a few chances at the goal line in the final minute of regulation. Some fans pointed the finger at Andy Reid and his staff, arguing the loss came down to a refusal to call the sneak.
The play has been largely off the table for Kansas City since Mahomes injured his knee in October of 2019, and the criticism came fast. “Not sneaking the ball is the dumbest thing in the world,” Sports Illustrated reporter Matt Verderame said.
“The guy got hurt on a freak accident SEVEN years ago. … The Chiefs just invent ways to beat themselves.”
Former Eagles coach Ryan Paganetti floated a workaround if the Chiefs are worried about Mahomes taking a hit. “Chiefs got to 2nd and goal at the 1 with three chances to win the game,” Paganetti wrote on X.
“I know they want to protect Pat. I really think Justin Fields coming in for sneaks could be a package they can go to in these moments.”
Mahomes, though, made his stance clear Wednesday afternoon when he met with reporters. “If I do call my number, I’ve got to make it work,” Mahomes said, via Nate Taylor.
“I’m going to do whatever it takes to win. It’s not like I’m scared to not put my body on the line.”
Whether Kansas City actually breaks out a sneak for Mahomes this weekend remains to be seen, but the Jets should at least be ready for it. Kickoff for Jets-Chiefs is set for 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
In Other News...
Caitlin Clark Just Weighed In On The Ultimate Chiefs Debate
Caitlin Clark has never been shy about her Kansas City Chiefs fandom, even with her day job now tied to Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever star recently appeared on Kylie Kelces podcast and spent some time talking through her allegiance to the Chiefs, a loyalty that has followed her since childhood and still shows up even as she plays for another Midwest city.
The conversation naturally drifted into the kind of debate Chiefs fans love most: favorites, eras and the players who defined them. Clark singled out Travis Kelce as her top choice among all-time Chiefs, while also giving plenty of respect to names like Tony Gonzalez and Patrick Mahomes. She also had positive things to say about how the team has looked this season, which is exactly the sort of outside perspective Kansas City fans will happily take while the bigger conversation around the roster keeps rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Xavier Worthy Still Hasn't Become The Chiefs Threat They Drafted
Xavier Worthy arrived in Kansas City with the kind of speed that usually changes how defenses line up, but the big-play version of the Chiefs receiver has been harder to find than expected. Through his young career, he still has only one 100-yard receiving game, the same total as rookie running back Emmett Johnson, a reminder that the vertical threat the Chiefs drafted has not yet become a consistent weekly problem for opposing secondaries.
The latest example came against Denver, where Kansas City got more production through an unexpected source than from the player built to stretch the field. Johnson led the Chiefs in receiving yards and found the end zone, while Worthy was held to a quiet afternoon, leaving the team still waiting for the deep-ball impact that was supposed to be part of his calling card. [Read more 🡒]
Andy Reid Signals Two Chiefs Decisions Fans Will Be Watching Closely
Andy Reids latest injury update brought a little more clarity to the Chiefs Week 9 prep, with Peter Woods still the only player kept out of practice because of a neck stinger and Mansoor Delane back on the field after dealing with a shoulder injury. There was also a positive note for the offense, as Rashee Rice is expected to keep trending up after his recent return from a hamstring injury, giving Kansas City another piece to work with as it gets ready for the Jets at home.
The bigger roster questions, though, are the ones fans will keep watching in the coming days. Reids comments pointed to movement at left guard, where Kingsley Suamataia looks positioned to get another shot in the lineup, while general manager Brett Veach continues to monitor the market ahead of the November 10 trade deadline. With the Chiefs trying to steady things in the middle of the season, the next decisions could shape both the immediate lineup and whatever help might still be on the way. [Read more 🡒]