Patrick Mahomes Fuels Chiefs’ Fourth-Down Win vs Raiders

The Kansas City Chiefs’ 31–0 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday was more than just a divisional rout — it was a masterclass in confidence and creativity on fourth down. One of the defining moments came early in the second quarter, when head coach Andy Reid faced his first true decision: a fourth-and-1 at Kansas City’s own 40-yard line.

Reid, known for his measured approach to risk-taking, decided to stay aggressive. “We try to stay aggressive in that area — and try to be relatively smart,” Reid said last month. “[Patrick Mahomes] has a good feel for those moments. We trust him. Some of these plays, he’s got options — and he’s got to be spot on.”

That trust played out perfectly in real time.

The Play That Fooled Everyone

The Chiefs lined up with Mahomes behind center Creed Humphrey, tight end Noah Gray, and running backs Kareem Hunt and rookie Brashard Smith in the backfield. The goal was to draw the Raiders offside — until Mahomes decided to make it theater.

“F—, it never f—ing works, man!” Mahomes shouted, throwing his hands in mock frustration as if the play was dead.

The outburst, caught by CBS microphones, fooled everyone — including the Raiders’ defense and even former quarterback Tony Romo in the broadcast booth. Just three seconds later, Mahomes took the snap, handed off to Hunt, and the veteran powered ahead for a three-yard gain to convert the first down.

“I think it comes from all my State Farm commercials,” Mahomes joked after the game. “Matt Nagy came up with the idea, and I just added a little acting to get the defense to relax. But at the end of the day, we had to go get it — and Kareem’s money in those moments.”

That conversion kept the drive alive, and Mahomes capped it off with a touchdown pass to Hollywood Brown, giving Kansas City a 14–0 lead.

The Chiefs’ Fourth-Down Philosophy

The Chiefs’ offense has been surgical when Reid keeps them on the field on fourth down. With Mahomes under center this season, Kansas City has converted 12 of 14 fourth-down attempts (85.7%), the highest rate in the NFL among teams with 10 or more attempts.

Those conversions aren’t just successful — they’re impactful. The Chiefs have scored 39 total points on possessions extended by fourth-down conversions, leading the league in decision expected points added (12.9), per TruMedia.

“Throughout the week, the coaches talk through the plays we like in those situations,” offensive coordinator Matt Nagy explained. “Whether it’s personnel, formation, or scheme, we go in confident. The players feel that conviction.”

Kareem Hunt’s Short-Yardage Dominance

Even with Mahomes’ passing ability, Kansas City often opts for the run in short-yardage scenarios. Eight of the team’s 15 fourth-down tries have been designed runs, usually featuring Kareem Hunt — who has converted seven of those eight attempts.

“Kareem’s got a real knack for it,” Reid said. “He’s always had great vision and power. Having him in those spots gives the whole group confidence.”

The only failure came in Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles, when a busted blocking assignment led to a one-yard loss. But since then, the Chiefs’ short-yardage execution has been nearly flawless.

A New Aggressive Era in Kansas City

Reid, long known for his traditional approach to fourth-down play-calling, has shown more trust than ever in Mahomes and his offense this season. It’s a shift driven partly by circumstance — kicker Harrison Butker has already missed six kicks this season — but mostly by faith in Mahomes’ ability to make magic happen.

In Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Mahomes converted a fourth-and-7 near midfield with a 49-yard strike to Hollywood Brown. Against the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City went 4-for-4 on fourth downs, including a 15-yard touchdown to Brown.

Even against the Detroit Lions, Reid abandoned his old tendencies. Facing a fourth-and-3 in the red zone — a spot where he had previously opted for a field goal 86 straight times since 2018 — he kept Mahomes on the field. The result: a six-yard touchdown to rookie Xavier Worthy.

“Pat’s always locked in,” Travis Kelce said. “He’s the kind of guy who pushes everyone around him to stay sharp. Nothing he does surprises me anymore.”

The Moment That Defined the Game

While Kansas City’s dominance over Las Vegas was never in doubt, that single fourth-down sequence early in the game symbolized everything about this Chiefs team — calculated, fearless, and occasionally entertaining in the most unexpected ways.

Whether or not Mahomes’ outburst was scripted, it reflected what everyone else was thinking. Fourth-and-short conversions don’t always work. But when they do — especially in Kansas City — they make the rest of the league look a step behind.