Dec 14, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass during the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Patrick Mahomes Reveals Kansas City Chiefs' Blueprint to Fool NFL Defenses 1
Patrick Mahomes said Wednesday that the Indianapolis Colts committed defenders to stopping the Kansas City Chiefs‘ run game in Week 2, and that the attention opened throwing lanes behind their linebackers.
Kansas City ran for 220 yards in its 31-10 season-opening win over the Denver Broncos on Sept. 14, which reported Mahomes’ comments from his Wednesday press conference. Arrowhead Pride also reported that running back Kenneth Walker III leads the NFL in rushing yards and attempts through two games.
Six days after the opener, the Chiefs beat the Colts 33-30 in overtime on Sunday night to move to 2-0.
Mahomes Says the Colts Committed to Stopping Walker
Patrick MahomesPatrick Mahomes
Sep 14, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) reacts before the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Indianapolis had one week of film on the new Kansas City backfield. Mahomes said the difference showed up in how the Colts lined up.
“You could even see the differences between Weeks 1 and 2,” Mahomes said. “The Colts saw how committed we were to the run game and how well it worked. You could tell they were putting assets into stopping the run, so whenever you’re doing the play fakes and linebackers are in the line of scrimmage, it opens up guys over the top of them.”
Two of Mahomes’ first three completions Sunday came on play-action from an under-center formation, according to Arrowhead Pride. Both went quickly to an open receiver.
Eric Bieniemy returned as Kansas City’s offensive coordinator in January, taking over an offense that averaged 320.6 yards per game in 2025.
“It’s got to be a great balance that we have to have of being able to run it, run it, run it, then play-action at the right time,” Mahomes explained. “I thought Coach Bieniemy and Coach Reid did a great job of calling the perfect play action, the perfect movement plays at the perfect time, so that I had guys open for me to throw.”
“We’ll continue to get better and better at that and continue to run the football as well,” Mahomes continued.
Chiefs Reached a Play-Action Rate They Hit Twice in 2025
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Denver Broncos at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Denver Broncos at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Sep 14, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Denver Broncos at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Thirty-five percent of Kansas City’s pass plays against Indianapolis were play-action. That rate would have ranked third among the Chiefs’ games last season. Kansas City ran play-action on more than 35% of its pass plays twice in 2025 and won both games: 30-17 over the Detroit Lions and 22-9 over the New York Giants.
“It just puts the defenses in a predicament,” Mahomes said. “Just knowing they have to kind of choose if they want to come up and stop the run or if they want to try and stop the explosive plays from happening. That’s what you want: you want defenses guessing; you want defenses having to make decisions they don’t want to make.”
Mahomes has thrown for 566 yards, five touchdowns and one interception through two games. Against the Colts, he threw for 382 yards and three touchdowns.
The Chiefs totaled 523 yards Sunday. Kansas City leads the league at 457.5 yards per game.
Walker is averaging 6.2 yards per carry.
“As an offense, I think we’ve done a great job of that these first few weeks,” Mahomes said. “If they’re going to stay back, run the football; if they’re going to come up, then play action, throw it over the top of them. I think if you can continue to do that and keep defenses guessing, you can continue to have success.”
“You want defenses having this tough decision,” Mahomes said. “Then you just kind of figure it out on the fly on which one you’re doing that day.”
Kansas City visits the winless Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Sept. 27.