Why Andy Reid and the Chiefs have no regret about failed 4th-down try vs. Eagles
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chiefs failed a fourth-and-1 try, leading to field position and 3 points for Eagles
- Andy Reid defended the call, citing need for aggression against tough opponents
- Kansas City now 5-for-6 on fourth-down conversions through start of 2025 season
The Chiefs dropped their second straight game to start the 2025 season on Sunday, falling 20-17 to the Philadelphia Eagles at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Any game settled by three points will see further examination of key decisions, and that is no different in KC coach Andy Reid’s call to go for it on fourth-and-1 early in the third quarter.
From the Chiefs’ own 36, Reid kept the offense on the field. Out of a jumbo set, quarterback Patrick Mahomes handed it off to running back Kareem Hunt, but Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith — initially untouched off the line — bulldozed through blockers Noah Gray and center Creed Humphrey to stop Hunt for a loss of one yard.
Turnover on downs.
The failed play gave the Eagles favorable field position, leading to three points — the eventual margin of defeat. Still, Reid came to the post-game podium with no regret.
“Listen, (the Eagles) were going to stay aggressive,” Reid said. “Likewise, I think it’s important against that crew that you stay aggressive.
“I probably could dial up some different things there, but I think against them you’ve got to do that. Obviously, I thought the plays we called were available, but it didn’t get done the way I wanted it.”
Reid has generally been unafraid of fourth-down tries this season, leaving the offense on the field in that scenario five other times this year. Kansas City converted the five other chances, including two within the loss to Philadelphia.
Mahomes favors his head coach’s aggressive nature.
“I always want to go for it,” Mahomes said. “That’s just who I am. I want to be aggressive and do that, and I know our defense and I trust in our defense to get a stop.
“Obviously, we didn’t get it — the defense holds them to a field goal, best that we can do in that situation. You always second-guess it when it doesn’t work. When it works, it’s a good thing; when it doesn’t work, it’s a bad thing.
“But I’d rather be on the aggressive side of history than the non-aggressive side. Whatever Coach Reid does in that situation, I have full trust behind it and full confidence in it.”
According to football analytics site RBSDM.com, the failed play only dropped the Chiefs’ win (likelihood) percentage from 43% to 31%. Considering the defense did hold up, the team still had more than enough time to emerge victorious.
They didn’t, but Reid’s formula is that the team will win more games by staying aggressive than the alternative. Mahomes and the locker room clearly stand behind that philosophy.
“Coach Reid — he’s done it for a long time,” Mahomes said. “He’s won a lot of football games. I think regardless of the decision, when he makes that decision everyone on this team trusts and has confidence in it, and that’s why I think we’ve won as many games as we’ve won.
“He’s one of the best of all time — if not the best of all time — at making decisions like that, and so I just trust that he’s going to make the right decision at the right time.”
This story was originally published September 14, 2025 at 8:24 PM.
