Patrick Mahomes has admitted he was glad the officials ruled Colts WR Laquon Treadwell down by contact on a key play in overtime due to not wanting to see the backlash on social media
Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs interacts with fans after an overtime win over the Indianapolis Colts at Arrowhead Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Patrick Mahomes was relieved that officials overturned Laquon Treadwell's fumble(Image: Getty Images)
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Patrick Mahomes has said he was relieved the officials overturned a play that would have benefited the Kansas City Chiefs during its 'Sunday Night Football' win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Playing just his second game since tearing his ACL last year, Mahomes looked back to his best on 'Sunday Night Football', throwing for 382 yards and three touchdowns as the Chiefs beat the Colts in overtime, 33-30, courtesy of a Harrison Butker field goal. However, the game could have ended moments before Butker's field goal, had officials ruled that Colts WR Laquon Treadwell fumbled the ball with the Chiefs up 30-27 at the time.
With just over five minutes left in overtime, Colts quarterback Daniel Jones launched a deep ball to Treadwell, who caught the ball at the Kansas City 20-yard line. After stumbling with three Chiefs defenders around him, Treadwell got up to try and gain some further yards, only to then lose the ball after it was punched out by Nohl Williams, with Kansas City recovering to end the game.
However, a lengthy review ensued, with it determined that when Treadwell stumbled, he was contacted by Kansas City's L'Jarius Sneed, resulting in the Colts maintaining possession. Indianapolis kicked a field goal shortly after to tie the game up before the Chiefs game-winning drive.
"This is insane," said Tirico on the NBC broadcast as replay showed just how close the contact between Sneed and Treadwell was. "Whoa ... That just cannot be much closer," replied color analyst Cris Collinsworth.
"Will it be ruled down by contact because of that contact on the hip?" added Tirico, with rules analyst Terry McAulay then issuing his verdict.
"There Mike absolutely that that's the definitive shot right there," said McAulay. "He does have control with the right hand. He's touched the hip; He goes down the run, the runners down by contact, and Indianapolis keeps the ball."
After the review went in the Colts favor, Tirico was left stunned. "Absolutely insane," Tirico said with Collinsworth adding, "I've never been part of it or anything like that happen to decide the game. Wow."
Over the years, the Chiefs have caught the ire of NFL fans for perceived favoritism from officials. That was something which was in the back of Mahomes' mind, with him admitting he was glad the Colts maintained possession due to not wanting to see the firestorm the review could have caused on social media had it gone the Chiefs way.
"We have the big play in overtime where we think we strip the ball, and then end up being barely touched," said Mahomes speaking to reporters.
"I was actually kind of glad because I didn't want to see Twitter's reaction if they would've called it a fumble. So we got to prove it the right way, got the stop there and then go back out there and get a field goal."
L'Jarius Sneed was spotted making very slight contact with Laquon Treadwell in overtime
L'Jarius Sneed was spotted making very slight contact with Laquon Treadwell in overtime(Image: NBC)
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Treadwell himself admitted he was left relieved the officials ruled him down by contact.
"It was difficult," said Treadwell of watching the review play out.
"Obviously you don't want to put yourself in that situation and you know leave it in the refs hands with the game on the line. They made a great call calling me down, so I was just thankful that we got another play."
Treadwell added, "It was a great play by that guy man, they played through the whistle, just thank god, thankfully I was down and we got to play another down."