With the Kansas City Chiefs holding a three-point lead early in the fourth quarter of a back-and-forth AFC divisional round matchup against the Buffalo Bills, things got a bit strange for both teams. After the Bills attempted and failed a fake punt from their 30-yard line, trailing 27-24, the Chiefs had the ball on the goal line, set to potentially extend the lead to double digits after an impressive 29-yard run by Isiah Pacheco.
But on the very next play, Reid, instead of riding with the hot hand of Pacheco or even calling to get it to Travis Kelce, who already had two scores, opted to call a play for Mecole Hardman. The result was Hardman’s second fumble of the day, and this one went out of the side of the end zone, turning the ball back over to Buffalo.
Mecole Hardman has touched the ball twice in this game. He fumbled both times.
This time he fumbles out of the endzone for a touchback.
Just wowwww.pic.twitter.com/WYxXWjRh2o
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 22, 2024
Chiefs and NFL fans alike were in complete disbelief over Reid’s decision. Pacheco had north of 80 rushing yards and a touchdown already and on first-and-goal from the Buffalo 1-yard line, the ball went to Hardman. Not surprisingly, the reactions were about what you’d expect.
The chiefs are amazing and then they do stuff like hand the ball to their WR8 at the goal line
— Matt Ford (@mmford10) January 22, 2024
When you trust Hardman in that situation, you get what you get.
— Andy Holloway (@andyholloway) January 22, 2024
Everyone: The fake punt attempt with Hamlin was the craziest play call you will see this game.
Andy Reid with Mecole Hardman: pic.twitter.com/oVhIyhjUHH
— TheOGfantasyfootball (@TheOGfantasy) January 22, 2024
Sean McDermott tried to give the game away taking the ball out of his best players hands. Andy Reid just followed suit. https://t.co/fPAUZKTqSX
— Austin Gayle (@austingayle_) January 22, 2024
Isiah Pacheco was an almost literal rolling ball of butcher knives and Andy Reid was on YouTube watching Kadarius Toney highlights
— Patrick Daugherty (@RotoPat) January 22, 2024
To the fans who are baffled by Andy Reid abandoning the run game pic.twitter.com/gADLe1ZJEC
— Devon Clements (@DevclemNFL) January 22, 2024
This game was over. Cannot believe Andy Reid got that cute on the goalline when Pacheco was gashing em.
— Adam Best (@Arrowhead_Adam) January 22, 2024
Pacheco can't be stopped.
Andy Reid – Lets run a reserve and fumble out of the end zone.
— John Ewing (@johnewing) January 22, 2024
