Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes’ message for Jets’ Zach Wilson caught on live mic

After weeks of criticism, Zach Wilson turned in his best game in a Jets uniform on Sunday. And two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes took notice.

As the clock wound down and the teams flooded the field to exchange pleasantries, Mahomes made a b-line for Wilson.

BUY JETS TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETMASTER

“Hey, play like that all year,” the two-time Super Bowl champion said while bringing the Jets quarterback in for a hug.

Mahomes had more encouraging words for Wilson, but NBC wisely cut to a shot of coach Robert Saleh shaking hands with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

Wilson outplayed Mahomes on Sunday, completing 28 of 39 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns, and on a game-tying two-point conversion in the third quarter, he lowered his shoulder on a broken play to crack the goal line.

Meanwhile, Mahomes threw a pair of bad interceptions — and should have had a third one, too, on that final fourth-quarter drive, but the refs bailed him out with an egregiously bad holding penalty on cornerback Sauce Gardner. The flag came well after teammate Michael Carter II picked off the pass with 4:19 left, and Gardner was furious.

Bad calls aside, Wilson was unquestionably the MVP of the game.

Mahomes had more to say about the Jets’ No. 2 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Speaking to NBC’s Melissa Stark after the game, he said, “Zach [Wilson] played his ass off.”

That’s high praise coming from arguably the game’s best quarterback.

MORE SPORTS

– NBC’s Mike Tirico botches N.J. geography badly during Chiefs-Jets — and Twitter fries him for it

– With 2023 in the rear view, Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton makes a promise for ‘24 | Klapisch

– Jets’ Aaron Rodgers reveals to plan to return

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

Manuel Gomez may be reached at mgomez@njadvancemedia.com.