Keep Firing: Vertical Passing Game Could Open Chiefs Offense

The Chiefs haven't found vertical success yet, but it could make a big difference

With 10:42 left in the second quarter of the Chiefs’ Week 14 matchup against the Bills, Patrick Mahomes faced a big third down. Already trailing 14-0, Mahomes needed to make something happen on a down that used to be dubbed “Third and Mahomes” — where historically the 18 yards required to move the sticks didn’t seem insurmountable.

With an interception on the ledger already and another struggling start, Mahomes rolled out of pressure to his right and threw an incredible pass back into the middle of the field to his all-time favorite target and future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce who came down with the ball for one of the biggest highlights of the season and huge first down. A gain of 23 yards.