In the Week 5 showdown between the Chiefs and the Saints, Travis Kelce took on an unexpected role. The tight end showcased his ingenuity by using an underhand lateral pass to aid his team in gaining critical yardage just before halftime, passing the ball to Samaje Perine.
This inventive move triggered discussions across the NFL, prompting Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to comment on Kelce’s action during his post-game press conference. Mahomes noted that he had given Kelce different instructions and expressed surprise at the short pass.
“I mean, I’m shaking my head because I told him before the play ‘I’ll throw it to you so you can get in field goal range.’ And he underhand shoveled it across the entire field,” said Mahomes. “It’s like I’m talking to Sterling,” he joked. “That’s Travis, man. He’s a special player.”
On a crucial third-and-22 play, Mahomes connected with Kelce for a short pass, but Kelce opted for a creative twist. He maneuvered across the field, evading several defenders, and executed a well-timed underhand lateral to Perine.
This play resulted in a 15-yard gain, setting up the Chiefs for a subsequent field goal attempt. While the crowd was taken aback by the move, it wasn’t Kelce’s first showcase of such a strategy.
Last season, during a match against the Bills, Kelce also executed an overhand pass to Kadarius Toney. Unfortunately, that attempt was nullified due to an offside penalty called on Toney for lining up in the neutral zone.
This previous context suggests that Kelce’s decision was not spontaneous. Recently, Coach Reid made clarifications regarding this point.
Andy Reid clarifies Kelce’s lateral play
ESPN broadcaster Troy Aikman, along with many others in the league, speculated that Kelce’s lateral was an improvised action rather than premeditated.
However, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid revealed otherwise. Reid confirmed that the maneuver was indeed part of the game plan and noted that the team practices it regularly. He refrained from disclosing the play’s specific name but emphasized:
“We do it every day in practice, I can’t tell you the name of it”
Reid’s comments hint at a carefully crafted strategy, showcasing the KC team’s commitment to innovative plays. All eyes will be on the Chiefs in their upcoming game against the 49ers on October 20th, as fans eagerly await the chance to see the unnamed play in action once more.
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