Note that wide receiver Chris Conley (#17) is lined up on the far right side of the Chiefs' formation. I circled 49ers' defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (#99) and defensive end Arik Armstead (#91), both lined up across the right side of the Chiefs' offensive line. I also circled 49ers' defensive end Cassius Marsh (#54) lined up across the left side of the Chiefs' offensive line.
At the snap, the Chiefs' pass rush used lots of linear momentum and a great swim move from Marsh to bust through the 49ers pocket protection. By the time Mahomes backpedaled to the 13-yard line, he knew he had to improvise, and began to spin backwards (click on image for a larger view).
Just look at what Mahomes saw coming at him when he knew that a score would only come via his athleticism and talent (click on image for a larger view).
Marsh was in hot pursuit and chased Mahomes all the way back to the 49ers' 24-yard line (click on image for a larger view).
Mahomes then turned on the jets and ran toward the right side of the field. Conley followed
his quarterback and ran for the right corner of the end zone. Mahomes let go of the ball on the run at the
19-yard line and found Conley in the back, right corner of the end zone. Check out the throw (click on image for a larger view).
Mahomes's mind had to add his velocity to the ball's velocity. My introductory physics students have to work problems with adding velocity vectors all the time! Look at the throw from the back (click on image for a larger view).
You can see Conley running to the right in the back of the end zone. Check out where he caught the TD pass (click on image for a larger view).
It’ll go
into the record books as a 4-yard TD pass, but Mahomes took 7.2 seconds as he scrambled
a total distance of about 32 yards before releasing his pass, which actually traveled
roughly 29 yards. He threw off his right
foot, running nearly 20 mph when he released the ball. He was able to throw the ball around 53
mph. Conley got credit for a 4-yard TD
reception, but after he ran nearly the width of the field, he had run about 60
yards before catching the ball.
The 4-yard TD pass entry in the box score doesn’t reveal how much running and
how much wonderful physics went into the play.
Patrick Mahomes turned 23 just 6 days ago. I think we’re in for many more jaw-dropping
plays from that kid!
This was the first play of the new NFL seasons that I analyzed for TuneIn's 1st & Goal. Gary O'Reilly of Playing with Science joined me on the show. Click here for our segment.
