But Andy Reid and the Chiefs’ extra cute play-calling backfired in Week 16 against the Falcons. Instead of Mahomes throwing on fourth down, Kansas City ran a trick play to set up a throw for wide receiver Sammy Watkins. His pass lofted down the left sideline toward Mahomes before it was picked off by Atlanta’s Keanu Neal.
The pass essentially served as a punt pinned inside the 10, although that’s probably not why Reid put the ball in Watkins’ hands. Mahomes faked a handoff before pitching right to Watkins; the receiver tried to reverse field with his pass to Mahomes heading toward the left pylon.
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If you want to get even more nitpicky about the play, Watkins has never attempted a pass in his NFL career (he was 2 for 5 throwing the ball in college at Clemson). And Mahomes has never caught a pass in the NFL, being targeted just once.
While we’re questioning things: Should Neal have even intercepted the pass? If he had managed to knock it down without picking it off, the Falcons would have started their drive at their own 26-yard line. Instead, Mahomes downed Neal at the 1-yard line.
Apparently these are the types of things that happen in Week 16 two days after Christmas. Kansas City can clinch the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a win, while the Falcons are only playing for draft position. At least Reid figured out that dialing up a pass play for Watkins probably isn’t worth it.
