Things generally went well for the Detroit Lions in the first half of Thursday night’s NFL season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. But Patrick Mahomes and Blake Bell connected for a touchdown late in the second quarter, and a questionable decision by Lions coach Dan Campbell.
With just over a minute left, Kansas City faced a third-and-seven from its own 46. Mahomes found Noah Gray over the middle of the field and while Gray was close to picking up a first down, he was clearly short. The Chiefs were also penalized on the play for holding.
Declining the penalty would have brought up a fourth down. It would have been fourth-and-short and with Mahomes under center, it’s certainly possible that Andy Reid and company would have tried to go for it. But in a tie game, the most likely decision would have been a punt. Despite that, Campbell accepted the penalty.
Accepting the holding penalty instead of bringing up a fourth down was definitely an unorthodox choice.
And it did not work out. pic.twitter.com/acMwYntQA8
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) September 8, 2023
The penalty forced Kansas City into a third-and-17 scenario. And while that’s a low-percentage situation, for Mahomes and the Chiefs have a much better chance than anyone to pick up the first down.
That’s exactly what happened and more. Mahomes found Marquez Valdes-Scantling to pick up the first down. Then two plays later, he and Bell connected on a touchdown pass.
Travis Kelce is out, but Chiefs tight ends are still catching touchdowns.
14-7 Kansas City. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/uIiznnAmLo
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) September 8, 2023
And with that, the NFL world began to debate the decision to give the Chiefs another chance at a first down. It wasn’t universally criticized.
Are we really debating the accept/decline the penalty?
Don’t give up a 3rd and 17
— Jim Costa (@JimCosta_) September 8, 2023
But the majority of people seemed to feel that forcing Mahomes into fourth-and-short was a better play than a third-and-long.
Why did the lions accept that holding penalty?
— Eddie Gonzalez (@bansky) September 8, 2023
Why did the Lions accept the penalty
— Master (@MasterTes) September 8, 2023
Why tf would the Lions accept that penalty
— Jefe Hammers (@JefeHammers) September 8, 2023
Very poor job by Dan Campbell! You stop The Chiefs on 3rd and 7 and accept a penalty to give Mahomes another down?
Poor decision
Cost em 7.— BaddogSports (@MrBaddog7676) September 8, 2023
Why accept that penalty? It’s freaking Mahomes.
— The OddsBreakers (@theoddsbreakers) September 8, 2023
The real issue with taking that penalty is that it just invites Mahomes to throw the ball deep. Even an intercepted pass in that situation wouldn’t be much worse than a punt for the Chiefs. And generally speaking, Mahomes throwing the ball deep without much risk of serious consequence does not work well for his opponents.
[Photo Credit: NBC]
