The Chiefs were leading the Patriots by 17 in the fourth quarter, but a key mistake stole the spotlight. Patrick Mahomes hit Kadarius Toney right in the hands on a simple first down pass. The ball bounced off Toney’s helmet and was picked off by a Patriots defender. Then, for no clear reason, the defender tried to lateral it mid-play instead of just going down with the interception. It didn’t cost the Patriots, but it confused everyone watching.
Mahomes’ face after the pick told the whole story. Frustrated and freezing on the sideline, he was caught mouthing what looked like “I just don’t [expletive] get it, man.” Toney sat alone on the bench, looking for some support while teammates tried to keep things light. Mahomes wasn’t buying it. The Chiefs still had a big lead, but that didn’t change how it felt in the moment.
The Patriots managed to capitalize on the turnover, finishing off the drive with a rushing touchdown. It brought the game a little closer but still left them down two possessions. Mahomes stayed locked in on the dropped pass. Catching that ball would’ve sealed the game, but instead it gave their opponent life and gave fans something else to talk about.