Mahomes' former Chiefs teammate blames dodgy equipment for early fumble
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs picked the wrong time to break their streak of not turning the ball over. After conceding two in a Week 11 defeat to the Buffalo Bills in Week 11, head co…
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs picked the wrong time to break their streak of not turning the ball over.
After conceding two in a Week 11 defeat to the Buffalo Bills in Week 11, head coach Andy Reid's team went on a record eight-game run without giving up the rock.
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Mahomes is looking to reach his fifth Super BowlCredit: Getty
But the 501-play streak was ended at a crucial moment in the AFC Championship showdown against the Bills.
Looking to extend a 7-3 lead in plus territory at the end of the first quarter, Mahomes fumbled on a fake handoff to Isiah Pacheco.
The Chiefs lost possession and Josh Allen led Buffalo down the field to make it 10-7.
Initially, it looked like the superstar quarterback was to blame in a rare error.
But former teammate Mitchell Schwartz had another theory - pointing the finger at running back Pacheco's gloves.
"Well that’s unfortunate," the retired All-Pro tackle posted on X.
"Don’t know enough about mesh points to accurately say anything but feels like Pacheco’s gloves were a little too sticky there and caught the ball at the very end as Pat was pulling it. Weird and unfortunate play."
Fans weren't sure about the explanation, with many laying the blame on Mahomes.
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"Mahomes kept the ball in Pacheco's stomach too long. That's on the QB," wrote one.
"Patrick Mahomes Fraud Watch," added a second.
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Mahomes and the Chiefs can make history with a third consecutive triumphCredit: Getty
"I’m surprised they didn’t rule him down," said a third in reference to conspiracy theories about referees helping the Chiefs.
Turnovers have proved decisive in this year's playoffs.
All four teams who advanced from the Divisional Round did not give up the ball once.
The Washington Commanders were one of those victors but suffered a nightmare against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Giving up the ball four times ended in a record 55-23 defeat to highlight how quickly a team can be derailed.
Mahomes dusted himself off and put on a show in the second quarter, inspiring the Chiefs into a 21-10 lead.
Going into the game, he had beaten Bills QB Allen three times in a row in the postseason - one more would be an NFL record.
It was a record he clinched as a thrilling back-and-forth second half saw Mahomes run in two touchdowns, and the Chiefs defense come up with a couple of huge stops on fourth down.
A 32-29 victory means another AFC title for Andy Reid and Mahomes who now have five of them, all coming in the last six seasons.
And for the second time in three years they will face the Philadelphia Eagles for the Lombardi Trophy - the Chiefs winning 38-35 in Arizona in February 2023.
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