In what might go down as one of the most hilarious and genius plays of the NFL season, Patrick Mahomes once again proved that football IQ can be just as deadly as arm strength. During the Kansas City Chiefs’ dominant 31–0 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, the reigning MVP pulled off a brilliantly disguised trick play — one that began with him pretending to argue with head coach Andy Reid on the sidelines.
It all started late in the second quarter. With the Chiefs already leading 14–0, Mahomes jogged toward the sideline after a timeout, visibly frustrated. Cameras caught him gesturing angrily and seemingly yelling at Reid. He threw his hands in the air, walked away, and even muttered something that appeared to include a few swear words.
The crowd gasped — and even Raiders defenders seemed to lose focus for a moment. But seconds later, Mahomes turned the entire scene into a masterclass in deception.
As the Raiders’ defense relaxed, assuming there was confusion on the Chiefs’ sideline, the ball was snapped directly to running back Jerick McKinnon. Mahomes suddenly darted back onto the field, slipped behind the line, and caught a lateral from McKinnon before firing a 25-yard strike to Travis Kelce for a touchdown.
The stadium exploded. The “argument” had been a setup all along — a perfectly orchestrated piece of misdirection that fooled not only the Raiders but even some of the Chiefs’ own fans.
After the game, Reid was all smiles when asked about the incident.
“Yeah, that one was all Pat,” Reid said, laughing. “He told me before the drive, ‘Coach, just roll with it.’ I didn’t know exactly what he had in mind — but I knew it was gonna be good.”
Mahomes himself could barely hide his grin in the postgame interview.
“We’ve been saving that one,” Mahomes said. “Sometimes, you’ve got to have a little fun out there. If they’re watching me argue, they’re not watching the ball.”
The trick play immediately went viral on social media. Fans dubbed it the “Mahomes Mirage”, with thousands of clips circulating online showing the quarterback’s Oscar-worthy acting before the snap. NFL commentators praised his creativity, calling it “one of the most entertaining plays of the year.”
Former Raiders legend Charles Woodson weighed in after the game, saying:
“He made us look silly. You think he’s losing his cool, and the next second he’s throwing a touchdown. That’s next-level stuff.”
It wasn’t just a funny moment — it was proof of Mahomes’ incredible situational awareness and leadership. The Chiefs used that momentum to completely dominate the rest of the game, never letting the Raiders find their rhythm.
By the end of the night, Mahomes had thrown for 320 yards and three touchdowns, including the viral “prank” play that will surely be replayed for weeks to come.
When asked if the Chiefs plan to pull off another similar stunt, Mahomes just smiled and said:
“We’ve got a few more surprises up our sleeves. Let’s just say, you better keep your eyes on us.”
For the Raiders, it was another painful lesson: when you face Patrick Mahomes, even his jokes can turn into touchdowns.
