Why DeAndre Hopkins puts the fate of the Chiefs back in the hands of Patrick Mahomes

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The emotion and trust between Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ new receiver, DeAndre Hopkins, was already on display during their 30-24 overtime win over the Bucs on Monday night.

11 days after Kansas City sent the 32-year-old fifth-round pick to the Titans in response to a string of injuries, the Chiefs saw a promising connection that led to two goals to help them remain undefeated. the season.

“Those two, you talk about being on the same page, they were on the same page,” coach Andy Reid said after Hopkins had eight catches for 86 yards.

Twice, Mahomes found Hopkins matched with second-year Bucs cornerback Josh Hayes, a special teams player who has been plagued by multiple injuries at the position. The first beat the Chiefs 10-7 in the second half, and the second took the lead with less than five minutes left.

“He’s very good at winning 1-on-1s,” Mahomes said after the game. “For me to be able to get him down in the red zone, third down situations, he does a good job of filling in and finding those windows, like Travis. [Kelce] it does. I think as he sees the whole offense, he will be even better. … You give him an opportunity down the field, and he makes plays and gets away with what might have been a bad decision to catch a lot of the time.”

Hopkins’ first touchdown was set up by such a throw. On second down, Mahomes was hit in the pocket and looked up to see Hopkins down the middle but well covered. He threw a pass despite three Bucs linebackers converging, but Hopkins came down with the ball for a 35-yard gain.

Hopkins credits his quick bond with Mahomes to the time they spent together in less than two weeks as teammates.

“Communication, talking during practice, talking in the locker room, just talking every day about the looks we’re seeing and me picking his brain, asking him what he likes,” Hopkins said. “When I’m not there taking a rep, I’m always studying and seeing how he does things.”

Hopkins was exactly what the Chiefs needed, winning every week despite a number of injuries at receiver. Marquise Brown was lost to a season-ending shoulder injury before the start of the season, Rashee Rice needed season-ending knee surgery after the fourth game, Skyy Moore continued to be sidelined with a hamstring injury and one veteran, JuJu Smith-Schuster, also played with a hamstring injury.

The Chiefs are what Hopkins needs late in his career. He has 81 touchdowns, but only two playoff wins in 10 years at Houston, Arizona and Tennessee. Two of the four lost by the Chiefs and Mahomes. In the 2019 playoffs, Hopkins helped the Texans to a 24-0 lead, but saw Kansas City roar back to win 51-31.

Monday night was a painful turning point as the Chiefs relied heavily on Mahomes and their offense, as much of their success this season as the NFL’s last undefeated team came from the defensive end. Kansas City won 14 straight games going back to last season, and the most amazing part is that during the first 13 games, they did not score more than 28 points, the only such longest streak in NFL history.

But on Monday, after Mahomes and Hopkins gave the Chiefs a 24-17 lead with 4:17 left, the Bucs drove down the field against Kansas City’s defense, tying the game in the final minute. Tampa opted to kick the extra point to force overtime rather than attempt a double and escape with the win in regulation — and the Bucs never turned the ball over. On the first play of OT, Mahomes marched the Chiefs down the field to win over Kareem Hunt.

Hopkins’ impact will continue to grow in the coming weeks. In his start a week ago, he had just three targets for two catches and 29 yards, but on Monday night, he was productive, as he had eight catches for nine goals.

“First of all, he’s smart, and he’s very knowledgeable,” Reid said. “We put a lot of him in this week. [Receivers coach] Connor [Embree] He did a great job with those guys getting them ready to go. DeAndre is a seasoned player who’s a smart guy, so that’s a lot of it there.”

The bar is set impossibly high in Kansas City. As the Chiefs seek their first NFL three-peat title and their fourth title in six years, they are making history once again with a losing season. They haven’t even gotten to the regular season part of that yet, but an addition like Hopkins makes everything seem possible.

“It’s a blessing. I’m thankful to be here,” Hopkins said of his first home game with his new team. “I’m still taking it.”

Greg Auman is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He previously spent ten years covering the The Buccaneers Of course Tampa Bay Times and The Athletic. You can follow him on Twitter at @gregauman.

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