Patrick Mahomes has made it clear that he is willing to run a quarterback sneak despite Andy Reid’s caution (Image via Getty Images)
Patrick Mahomes makes his position clear after Chiefs’ goal-line failure
The debate has gained urgency after Kansas City’s 28-24 loss to the Denver Broncos. The Chiefs surrendered a 24-13 fourth-quarter lead and failed to score on four attempts from the one-yard line, leaving their offense under scrutiny.
“I’m going to do whatever it takes to win,” Mahomes said. On the final drive, Kansas City had a third-and-goal opportunity that appeared to leave room for Mahomes to take the ball himself. Instead, the Chiefs handed it to running back Kenneth Walker III, and Denver’s defense stopped the play. He also made his willingness to run a sneak clear. Yet recent struggles have made that argument harder to accept without question. When an offense cannot gain a yard near the goal line, the ability to push forward behind the center becomes especially valuable.
Mahomes dislocated his kneecap during a successful quarterback sneak against Denver in October 2019. Patrick Mahomes is not ready to abandon the quarterback sneak, even if Andy Reid has concerns about putting his star quarterback in harm’s way. The Kansas City Chiefs coach has reasons to be careful with Mahomes, given how much the team’s offense depends on him. But the quarterback does not appear to share the same hesitation. His stance highlights a familiar tension in Kansas City: Reid must protect the player who drives the offense, while Mahomes still wants the freedom to make the plays that help his team move the chains. Reid’s reluctance has a clear history. He missed the remainder of that game and the next two, giving the coach a lasting reason to think carefully before sending his franchise quarterback into a crowded pile. The Chiefs have avoided using Mahomes on a sneak since that injury, relying on other options in short-yardage situations. Reid has defended the approach, saying the team has been successful without the play.