Patrick Mahomes Reacts to Heated Rashee Rice, Travis Kelce, HC Reid Super Bowl Videos
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Following their 25-22 overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, Kansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes commented on heated interactions between himself and wide receiver Rashee Rice, and tight end Travis Kelce and head coach Andy Reid during the game.
Appearing Monday on SportsCenter (beginning at the 3:25 mark), Mahomes explained why he believes the team has been able to overcome disagreements and refocus on the task at hand:
“I think it just shows the love we have for the game and for each other. To be that passionate and to go out there and want to win and want to be out there making plays and want to do whatever it takes to help the team, that’s the type of guys that you want. Just like families and just like brothers, you’re gonna have some fights here and there, but you come together even closer after that.
“That’s the type of team that we have, the brotherhood that we have. We can let our emotions show and then we can reel it right back in and be better for it. It takes a special group of guys and that’s what we have in Kansas City.”
The first of the two encounters in question occurred after Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco lost a fumble in the red zone early in the second quarter.
A frustrated Kelce was seen screaming in Reid’s face and bumping into him on the sidelines, prompting running back Jerick McKinnon to pull Kelce away.
Kelce had not been a significant part of the gameplan to that point, but he ended up making a sizable impact on the game, finishing as the Chiefs’ leading receiver with nine receptions for 93 yards.
Per ESPN’s Adam Teicher, Reid downplayed the interaction after the game, saying:
“He caught me off balance. I wasn’t watching. He was really coming over [and saying], ‘Just put me in, I’ll score. I’ll score.’ So, that’s really what it was. I love that. It’s not the first time. I appreciate him.
“The part I love is he loves to play the game and he wants to help his team win. It’s not a selfish thing. That’s not what it is. I understand that. As much as he bumps into me, I get after him and we understand that. He just caught me off balance.”
The discussion between Mahomes and Rice occurred after Kansas City kicked a game-tying field goal with three seconds left in regulation.
Mahomes had a pass intended for Kelce broken up in the end zone, but Rice was actually open on the play, and he seemingly let Mahomes know about it after the fact.
The spat did not negatively impact the Kansas City offense, as after watching the Niners take a 22-19 lead in overtime on a field goal, Mahomes orchestrated a 13-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a Super Bowl-winning touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman.
Mahomes ended up going 34-of-46 for 333 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, while also leading the Chiefs with 66 rushing yards en route to his third career Super Bowl MVP Award.
It was far from a perfect season for the Chiefs, who went 11-6 during the regular season and had to win two road games just to reach the Super Bowl, but they showed their mettle throughout the playoffs, and despite some disagreements along the way, they showed why they are still the team to beat in the NFL.