Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is giving some big props to a teammate who came through to preserve the team’s unbeaten record this season.
The Denver Broncos appeared to have the Chiefs on the ropes on Sunday, driving deep into Kansas City territory and lining up for what would have been a game-winning field goal with just one second left in the fourth quarter. But linebacker Leo Chenal broke through, bursting up the middle to block Will Lutz’s 35-yard field goal attempt and preserve the 16-14 win.
The play helped move the Chiefs to 9-0 and sent the Arrowhead Stadium crowd into a frenzy.
After the game, Mahomes told reporters the linebacker’s new nickname.
“He has the strength of a defensive lineman as a linebacker,” Mahomes said, via AtoZ Sports reporter Charles Goldman in a post on X. “We call him John Cena.”
Mahomes seemed to enjoy the missed kick, with the CBS broadcast showing him jumping in celebration on the sidelines.
Patrick Mahomes goes NUTS after the blocked FG pic.twitter.com/HA5Ce0fiTc
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 10, 2024
Mahomes also did enough to win on a day when defenses dominated. He completed 28-of-42 passes for 266 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Chenal, in addition to his blocked field goal, added four tackles on defense.
With the win, the Chiefs matched their best start in franchise history and became the fifth team to start 9-0 the season after winning a Super Bowl.
