In the NFL, the best plays come from coaches who aren’t afraid to think outside the box. But when a team runs a play straight from another squad’s playbook and nails it, it can leave even the sharpest opponents shaken. That’s exactly what went down when the Kansas City Chiefs hit the Buffalo Bills with a play they’d never seen before—one that even former Chiefs star Khalen Saunders didn’t see coming.

For Saunders, it was a moment he didn’t see coming, especially from Patrick Mahomes. He tweeted, “Naw fr tho. I said this same thing right as the play happened.. I ain’t never seen a QB keeper with Pat and I’m talkin’ bout this is thru 4 years of games AND practice. If you ain’t never seen something in practice then you know it’s never been scouted! AR & Spags was in their bag.” When someone with years of experience on the Chiefs is caught off guard like that, you know it’s a big deal. It was a bold, unexpected move that had the Bills’ defense scrambling—this wasn’t a play anyone saw coming.

The surprise factor was everything. Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau admitted after the game, “I didn’t see that in any of the breakdowns I watched.” The Chiefs didn’t just run a successful play—they ran one that Buffalo wasn’t ready for. Thanks to Andy Reid’s genius coaching. The Chiefs made sure the Bills had zero chance to prep for it, catching them completely off guard when it mattered most.

But, as it turns out, the Chiefs‘ “shocking” play was actually straight from the Ravens‘ playbook. In their win over the Bills, the Chiefs ran a counter-read-option play from a 12-personnel formation—something they hadn’t busted out before. Both Kareem Hunt and Patrick Mahomes scored with it, totally leaving Buffalo’s defense shaken. ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky even said he’d never seen the Chiefs run anything like it, showing just how much it threw everyone off. But, before you comment that, they have stolen it, etc…It doesn’t matter. They won at the end. Period

Kansas City’s coaches had done their homework, looking at how other teams, especially the Ravens. Took advantage of Buffalo’s defense earlier in the season. The Ravens, along with some others, were among the few to score over 30 points on Buffalo (Points, not difference). Seeing how the Bills struggled to defend mobile quarterbacks, the Chiefs adapted the play for Mahomes, and Buffalo had no clue it was coming. The result? A play they couldn’t defend, giving Kansas City a huge advantage.

By pulling off this play, the Chiefs proved once again that preparation, adaptation, and perfect execution can outsmart even the best defenses. The Ravens might not be receiving any thank-you notes. But the Chiefs showed that creative coaching is key in big playoff moments.

Mahomes reaches out to Allen with a special message

After the Chiefs punched their ticket to Super Bowl LIX with a 31-28 win over the Bills. Patrick Mahomes took a moment to show some love to Josh Allen. Despite the Chiefs’ dominance over Buffalo in recent years, with 4-0, Mahomes still took time to recognize Allen’s greatness. It’s not every day you see that level of respect between two quarterbacks in such a heated rivalry. But Mahomes didn’t hold back in giving credit where it was due.

“I always feel for him, he’s a great player, an amazing competitor, and an awesome dude who I respect so much,” Mahomes said, per Zak Keefer. No matter what the outcome of the game. A lot of players may keep hard feelings, but not Patrick Mahomes. “I’m sorry it had to be us. But, you know, we compete, and someone has to win.” Mahomes kept it real, showing respect for Allen.

While the Chiefs are heading to their fifth Super Bowl in six years, the Bills have to regroup for the offseason. But Mahomes’ words just prove that, even with the heat of competition, there’s major respect between these two quarterbacks. Now, the Chiefs are aiming to make history with three straight Super Bowl wins, the in-famous 3-peat. But Allen and the Bills aren’t backing down anytime soon, they might come back even stronger next season. For now, Mahomes’ apology shows the real competitive spirit between these two.