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Patrick Mahomes’ Perfect Reaction to Travis Kelce’s Lateral on ‘MNF’
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Patrick Mahomes’ Perfect Reaction to Travis Kelce’s Lateral on ‘MNF’

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When the Kansas City Chiefs faced a third-and-21 from the New Orleans Saints’ 43-yard line late in the first half of their “Monday Night Football” game, quarterback Patrick Mahomes had one goal in mind. He wanted to get the ball within field goal range to make Harrison Butker’s final attempt as easy as possible.

Travis Kelce had bigger ideas. The veteran tight end caught a five-yard checkdown from Mahomes and ran horizontally down the field before lateraling the ball to running back Samaje Perine.

The coin toss caught the Saints off guard and allowed Perine to create a fourth-and-1 chance that the Chiefs ultimately converted.

Kelce and Perine’s perfect performance of the play left many wondering if the play had a script. Mahomes indicated during his post-game press conference that this was not the case.

“I’m shaking my head because I told him before the game, I said, ‘I’m going to throw it to you so we can get in field goal range,’” Mahomes said of his pre-snap conversation with Kelce. “And he scooped it underhand all over the field.”

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That drew a chuckle from reporters, as did Mahomes’ comparison of his 35-year-old top target’s risk assessment with that of his 3-year-old daughter.

“It’s like I’m talking to Sterling,” Mahomes said with a smile. “That’s Travis, man. He is a special player. As long as he does it and it works, no one will say anything.”

Perine’s awareness certainly helped Kelce’s gamble during the play. The eight-year veteran entered Week 5 having only spent about a month and a half with the Chiefs, but after practicing with Kelce, Perine knew the unscripted lateral was possible.

“He does that every day in practice,” Perine said of Kelce. ‘He’s always ready. You have to keep your hand on the swivel.”

“It’s like Kelce playing football in the backyard,” he added. “To experience it firsthand? It was crazy, but it was fun.”

Kelce’s play similarly amused Chiefs coach Andy Reid. He praised the tight end for practicing it consistently and being judicious about when to break out a surprise lateral.

But Reid also made a joke during his post-game press conference, warning Kelce not to get too generous or lax with the play.

“If he’s not doing well, I tell him, ‘Don’t come back to the bench,’” Reid joked.