With an in-game lateral pass that sent Kansas City Chiefs fans into a frenzy, Travis Kelce gave NFL fans a serious case of déjà vu. On a third and twenty-two, Patrick Mahomes found Kelce with a short ball that helped draw attention to the middle of the field. After that, Kelce slipped a deft lateral pass to Samaje Perine, who came dangerously close to taking the first down himself.
Taylor Swift and her dad, Scott Swift, were equally as excited as the fans after Travis Kelce produced that outstanding play. They were on their feet clapping with smiles on their faces. Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes appeared to keep their distance once again at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday night, after being almost inseparable at Chiefs games last season.
Kelce with the pitch on 3rd & 22
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This time, the lateral counted, a year after an offsides ruling against Kadarius Toney negated Kelce’s overhand pass to him that would have been the game-winning score against the Buffalo Bills. Following a holding penalty and a Carson Steele fumble, Kansas City was forced back to 2nd-and-34 by a routine first-and-10 drive.
Mahomes set up the huge third down with a 12-yard connection to JuJu Smith-Schuster. Next was the Kelce lateral, which ESPN broadcaster Troy Aikman did not believe was a set play. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid did confirm it was a deliberate call, but did not share the name of the play. ‘We do it every day in practice, I can’t tell you the name of it,’ Reid said.
‘He’s out there like he’s playing basketball man, he’s looking to make a play,’ Jason Kelce said. Ryan Clark compared Travis’ impromptu nature to former Baltimore Ravens defensive back Ed Reed, who was famous for lateraling interceptions to teammates to keep plays going.
On 4th-and-1, Kareem Hunt picked up the first down. The drive ended with a 34-yard Harrison Butker field goal to give the Chiefs a 13-7 lead.