The Kansas City Chiefs made their case for being the NFL’s best team in an impressive 31-0 rout of the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. The win served to reaffirm their position as Super Bowl favorites. It illustrated a significant, radical shift in head coach Andy Reid’s propensity to favor one decision on fourth downs.
During the first quarter, Reid had only a slight 7-0 advantage. That was his first real-world, live-action test on a huge fourth-and-1 play. Normally, Reid has leaned on his kickers in high-pressure situations. He regularly settles for field goals rather than taking a chance on a 4th down conversion with his offense. This go-round, he decided to bet on his players’ belief, a bet that would prove critical as the game played out.
With Patrick Mahomes at the helm, the Chiefs executed a clever hard count designed by offensive coordinator Matt Nagy to distract the Raiders’ defense. Mahomes’ strategy worked like a charm, deceiving the Raiders and even TV analyst Tony Romo. On the very next play, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire received the handoff and blasted upfield for the key 3-yard pickup. This play not only converted the first down, but gave indication to the trust Reid has in his offense this season.
The Chiefs have had 86 such plays against them since 2018 (fourth-and-3 or more) inside their opponents’ 30-yard line. Reid has historically played it safe and kicked a field goal in these situations. This season, however, he’s begun to take smarter risks. His mental buoyancy from faith in Mahomes, plus Harrison Butker’s wicked accuracy, tempting him to try all these long-range kicks.
Previous to this game, Butker, the league’s highest-paid kicker, was having a rough season. He missed three FG and three XP tries. This included forcing a reconsideration of Reid’s decisions in key moments. The decision to go for it on fourth down against the Raiders reflects a growing trust between Reid and Mahomes.
“I think it comes from all my State Farm commercials,” – Patrick Mahomes
Mahomes jokingly added that his off-field persona is what makes him so successful. He knew that a ton of rehearsal was the key to pulling off the play.
“I’m joking. [Offensive coordinator Matt] Nagy came up with the idea. We had talked about doing the hard count and trying to draw the [defense] offsides,” – Patrick Mahomes
This coaching move is a great example of how collaboration between coaching staff and players can impact big plays in the game.
What Nagy really put this on to, and the key there during that lead up to the game, was communication. He acknowledged that the staff coached intensely to practice for these high-leverage situations.
“Throughout the week, the coaches have done a good job of being able to really talk through the plays that we like in this moment,” – Matt Nagy
While Reid’s willingness to adapt to a less conservative overall offensive approach is a reflection of his changing dynamic with Mahomes, it goes beyond that. The young quarterback, for all his vaunted talent, has earned Reid’s trust over time with steady play and generalship on the field. Reid said his goal is to be smart, but stay aggressive.
“We try to stay aggressive in that area — and try to be relatively smart,” – Andy Reid
The Chiefs converted all five of their fourth-down attempts in their most recent game against the Baltimore Ravens. Their flawless record gives them confidence in those high-stakes situations. For each successful conversion, Mahomes and his teammates further condition themselves for success when the game is on the line.
As the quarterback duel unfolded, Mahomes made the kinds of throws and plays that transcended everything. He was brilliant in leading the Chiefs’ offense to one of the most lopsided victories ever over the Raiders. The team’s performance showcased not only their talent but Reid’s willingness to adapt his coaching philosophy.
“But we’ve got to go get [the first down]. I thought the offensive line did a great job of driving off the ball and Kareem, in those situations, is money,” – Patrick Mahomes
The Chiefs’ dominating victory against the Raiders sure puts them as the favorites to win this year’s Super Bowl. They are doing this by playing a more aggressive sometimes reckless style of play. If those decisions are made wisely, the majority would like to see them continue to blow out their opponents.
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