NFL world reacts to bizarre late-game decision by Chiefs in stunning loss to Lions
The 2023 season didn't start like the defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs would have liked, falling in a stunning loss to the Detroit Lions, 21-20. However, following the loss, much of the NFL world was still discussing a curious late-game decision by Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.
Trailing by one with 2:09 left, the Chiefs faced a long fourth-and-25 from their own 30-yard line. Despite having three timeouts and the two-minute warning in his pocket, Reid decided to go for it.
Despite Reid's baffling call, Mahomes nearly made his head coach look like a genius. On the play in question, Mahomes shifted to his left, tossing a more than catchable pass toward wideout Skyy Moore, who could not come up with the football.
However, the Chiefs failed to convert, leading to an outcry of criticism from pundits on social media.
Making Reid's decision even more puzzling is how unwilling he was to go for it on fourth-and-short several times on Thursday night. The Chiefs kicked field goals twice against the Lions on fourth-and-2 while deciding to punt on fourth-and-2 more than once in the second half. Adding to the mystery, the Chiefs were flagged for a false start on the previous play, pushing them back five yards on fourth-and-20. Yet, Reid stuck to his guns and went for it again, even with a second chance to ponder things.
The result was a microcosm of a more significant issue for the Chiefs on Thursday night: drops. The Chiefs were credited with four against the Lions, but it seemed like a lot more. To make matters worse, all occurred on third down. Receiver Kadarius Toney had three drops alone, including one on a critical pick-six by Lions rookie defensive back Brian Branch, which helped swing the momentum in the second half.
Thursday night wasn't the Chiefs' nor Reid's night, and leading up to their Week 2 contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars, many will paint a sky-is-falling type of picture for the defending Super Bowl champions.
However, the Chiefs still have Mahomes, and they're likely to get tight end Travis Kelce back from injury soon. So, counting the Chiefs out would be a massive overreaction.
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