The Kansas City Chiefs absolutely dominated the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half of the AFC Championship Game, taking a 21-10 lead into halftime, but it probably should have been more.
In fact, it would have, if not for some questionable play-calling to close out the half.
With the Chiefs at the Bengals one and five seconds remaining, Kansas City decided to take one more shot at the end zone instead of settling for the field goal.
But, as Mahomes dropped back and could not find an open receiver in the end zone, he tossed left to Tyreek Hill behind the line of scrimmage.
Bengals cornerback Eli Apple was right there to stop him and make the play, thus running out the clock for the half.
Had Mahomes just thrown the ball away rather than to Hill, it is likely the Chiefs still would have had enough time to kick a field goal and go up two touchdowns into the half.
Should the Bengals mount a comeback, it could be a play that becomes the focal point of second-guessing.
Many fans on social media did not understand how the Chiefs mismanaged the clock and play-calling in that spot.
After they came out of the half, CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson said Mahomes wanted a shot in that scenario and Andy Reid gave it to him. Of course, it still does not quite answer the question why he didn’t make the throw in the end zone.
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