Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes: "I was proud of those guys"

The Chiefs returned to Arizona Saturday night to the stadium where they won Super Bowl LVII to play the Cardinals in the second preseason game of the season. 

In the first quarter Patrick Mahomes threw a pass that looked like he was going to go out of bounds but instead he was able to jump and throw a sidearm pass that was intended for Marquez Valdes-Scantling. 

“He (Valdes-Scantling) told me after that I should have ran out of bounds,” Mahomes said. “I wasn’t going to get hit so as long as I am not taking any hits, I can try some stuff out.”

It was a slow start for both teams in the first quarter. The Chiefs were the first to get on the scoreboard. With seven second left in the first quarter Mahomes rolled to his right and threw a pass to wide receiver Justin Watson in the end zone to put the Chiefs up 7-0. 

In the second quarter, quarterback Shane Buechele continued his impressive preseason completing all 10 of his passes and throwing for 105 yards. He capped off his night with a 15-yard run for a touchdown. 

In the second half, three players scored their first touchdowns with the Chiefs. Ihmir Smith -Marsette caught a 15-yard pass from Blaine Gabbert in the left corner of the end zone to put the Chiefs up 24-10. 

With under two minutes left in the third quarter wide receiver Cornell Powell had a toe drag catch from Gabbert in the back of the end zone to put the Chiefs up 31-10. 

“Shane is a playmaker,” Mahomes said. “He’s been in this system and is really comfortable with it. Blaine played really good as well with two touchdown drives and Chris played good at the end of the game. We take pride in that quarterback room and being able to step in and make plays happen. I was proud of those guys.”

Rookie running back Deneric Prince finished the night with a handoff from quarterback Chris Oladokun at the goal line and found his way into the end zone for his first NFL touchdown. 

“I was telling everyone back in OTAs that I can see the talent,” Mahomes said. “We had guys throughout the entire roster that were making plays. You had guys that were injured last week and this week we had guys step in and make plays and it shows that we have a lot of depth in the receiving room. It’s a good problem to have but I have confidence in all those guys.”

The Chiefs scored 38 points in the game just like they did in Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles. 

“Coach Reid said one thing, and that was to have better urgency,” Mahomes said. The guys took it as a challenge. We know it’s the preseason and the games don’t count but you want to have that momentum going into the regular season.”

Up next the Chiefs will return to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium for the first time this season to wrap up the preseason against the Cleveland Browns Aug. 26.