This play put Chiefs in 2025 Super Bowl. Here’s why it was Andy Reid’s ‘No. 1 option’
Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he had a primary goal during the short stoppage in play: “Calm the storm.”
It was late in the fourth quarter of KC’s 32-29 win Sunday over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game, and following a Bills timeout, KC faced a third-and-9 with 1:35 left with a chance to seal the game.
This wasn’t the time for panic. Or for trying to figure out what to do.
Instead, Reid said this was a moment to gather the players on the sidelines, have them refocus and make sure everyone was good with their assignments.
Because the play-call that was coming? It had already been decided days ago.
“That,” Reid said, “was our No. 1 option.”
How the Chiefs got to that point gives a glimpse into the preparation that’s helped them earn three consecutive Super Bowl appearances.
Reid said this passing play to running back Samaje Perine — designed to beat man coverage — was first discussed five days earlier. On that Tuesday, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy began refining the call sheet while gaining feedback from coaches and quarterback Patrick Mahomes on what they liked in a situation like third or fourth down with the game on the line.
“Matt spends endless time going through all of that with the guys,” Reid said.
It paid off in the most important moment on Sunday.
The Chiefs, from film study, anticipated that the Bills would be playing man coverage on the critical down. The goal, then, would be to have three receivers run across the field to create traffic for Perine’s defender, while hoping to clear enough space that he could gain the first down.
It worked. Perine made his way through the line of scrimmage for the reception, then outran Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard, who had to work to avoid three Chiefs wideouts before coming up short on a diving attempt at Perine’s ankles.
Perine gained 17 yards, and the Chiefs ran out the rest of the clock with two kneel-downs to advance to Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles.
KC used a similar concept to clinch the game just a few weeks earlier. In a Week 16 victory against the Houston Texans, the Chiefs freed up Perine on a late third-and-4, running two receivers across the field as diversions to gain 16 yards on a similar run-out-the-clock drive.
The play continued Perine’s redemption arc with the Chiefs. The Denver Broncos cut the 29-year-old Perine in training camp before he signed with KC this season.
Reid said Perine was one of the Chiefs’ newcomers he made sure to find on the field while celebrating Sunday’s win.
“Perine goes and helps seal the game for us — a new addition. All that stuff is great,” Reid said. “That’s why you do this. That’s why you do this as a coach: to get to see those guys that have achieved like they’ve achieved here.”
This story was originally published January 29, 2025 at 12:43 PM.
