Chad Johnson Claps Back at Brittany Mahomes Over Chiefs Ref Blame

Patrick Mahomes on the potential of running a QB sneak this season.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes spoke with reporters on Wednesday.

He discussed the potential of running a quarterback sneak this season after passing on the chance in Week 8.

"Well, if I do that, it better work," said Mahomes.

"I understand people, when you watch the film and see stuff, you want (us) to go out there and make it happen."

"Obviously, the play call is what we called, and we wanted to execute that play."

"They were able to stunt and get people in position to where Kenneth wasn't able to get going downhill and score a touchdown."

Out of caution, Mahomes hasn't run a quarterback sneak since the 2019 season.

That was after he suffered a dislocated right kneecap on the play and missed two games.

"If I do call my own number, it's got to work," said Mahomes.

"That's something I'll think about in the future."

Chiefs fans have floated the idea of using backup quarterback Justin Fields in those scenarios instead.

Fields was notably successful on seven sneak attempts while with the New York Jets last season.

The quarterback sneak is a play where the quarterback takes the snap and immediately dives forward behind the offensive line.

It is typically used on short yardage situations, often on third or fourth down with less than a yard to go.

The play relies on the offensive line creating a push and the quarterback following the momentum of the line.

Many NFL quarterbacks run the sneak regularly because it is considered a high-percentage play for gaining a few inches.

However, the play carries risk of injury because the quarterback is exposed to heavy contact from defensive linemen and linebackers.

Mahomes' history with the play is a direct reason for his hesitation.

In 2019, during a Week 7 game against the Denver Broncos, Mahomes attempted a quarterback sneak.

He came down awkwardly and dislocated his right kneecap.

The injury forced him to miss two games, and the Chiefs went 1-1 in his absence.

Since that injury, Mahomes has not attempted another sneak in a regular season or playoff game.

The Chiefs have relied on other short-yardage plays, including handoffs to running backs and designed runs by Mahomes.

But the topic resurfaced after a controversial play in Week 8 of the 2026 season.

The Chiefs were on the goal line in the closing seconds against the Denver Broncos.

A touchdown would have given Kansas City a go-ahead win.

Instead, the team was flagged for a false start penalty.

On the next play, Mahomes was sacked on fourth down, and the Chiefs lost the game.

After the game, Mahomes said officials usually swallow the whistle in those big moments.

"It couldn't have been big, but it was called," Mahomes told reporters, via USA Today's Broncos Wire.

"At the end of the day, you have to go with whatever is called, but a lot of times in those big moments, the little stuff doesn't get called like that."

Head coach Andy Reid also spoke out against the call.

But not everyone on the Chiefs agreed with Mahomes.

Tight end Travis Kelce broke with his quarterback on the issue.

On his "New Heights" podcast, Kelce discussed the play with his brother Jason Kelce.

"A lot of people are saying this wasn't a penalty; I'm going to go on record and say that this is definitely a penalty," Jason said.

Travis Kelce agreed.

"Yeah, he flinches," the Chiefs tight end admitted.

Travis Kelce also said the Chiefs still had a chance to score after the penalty.

"At the end of the day, we still had another play," Travis said.

"I'll take my guy Pat Mahomes on the six-yard line with the game on the line; I'll take that any day of the week."

"So we gotta execute at the end even more."

"We can't let the penalty absolutely deflate us and not let us execute at the end of the game."

The debate over the play call has now shifted to whether Mahomes should have run a sneak instead of handing the ball off.

Many fans and analysts argued that a quarterback sneak would have been a safer bet than the handoff that got stuffed.

Mahomes addressed that criticism directly on Wednesday.

He acknowledged that fans want to see him run the sneak when they watch the film.

But he also made clear that the decision is not just his to make.

The play call comes from the coaching staff, and Mahomes executes what is called.

He said the Broncos were able to stunt and get defenders into position to stop the run.

Mahomes did not rule out running a sneak in the future.

He said it is something he will think about.

But he also set a condition: if he runs it, it has to work.

The condition reflects both his injury history and the stakes of the season.

The Chiefs are 5-2 to start the 2026 season.

They remain in first place in the AFC West, but the margin for error is thin.

A single goal-line failure can cost the team home-field advantage in the playoffs.

The quarterback sneak debate is part of a larger conversation about the Chiefs' offensive strategy.