Usually, when you see a jump pass go for a touchdown it occurs in the red zone. Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes has the reputation of being a playmaker, but I am just not too sure that anyone has seen anything like this before.
Early in the fourth quarter, Mahomes faced some pressure in the pocket on third down. Navigating traffic and stepping up into the pocket, Mahomes located rookie WR Mecole Hardman and jumped forward as he delivered the football. It was, by definition, a jump pass.
The key difference here from your typical jump pass is that it didn’t happen anywhere near the red zone. Instead, Hardman caught the ball and took it 63 yards for a touchdown. Take a look:
Andy Reid has said it before about Mahomes — that his feet never touch the ground. I’m just not sure he meant that literally, though. We’ve seen some crazy throws from Mahomes like the left-handed pass and the no-look pass, but this feels like a whole new ballpark.
The jump got Mahomes enough time and space to deliver a clean pass to Hardman. After the game, Mahomes said this was something that he’d been practicing with QB coach Mike Kafka. Knowing that he practices all the other amazing things that he does, this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
It’s reassuring to finally know for certain that Mahomes magic is back in Kansas City. Unfortunately, this great play was wasted and will likely be forgotten because of a disappointing loss against the Titans.
