The missed field goal with under two minutes to go from Bills kicker Tyler Bass was obviously the decisive moment in the Chiefs’ AFC divisional round win. But one of the stranger coaching decisions came earlier in the quarter when the Bills tried a fake punt with Damar Hamlin running a direct snap.
The Chiefs literally knew the play was coming. Just listen to what Nick Bolton said before the play.
In this week’s edition of Inside the NFL, mic’d-up footage showed the Chiefs linebacker telling all his teammates on the punt-coverage unit to watch for a fake even though Buffalo was punting from their own 30. It’s a good thing they listened because the Chiefs were clearly ready for the play.
.@_nickbolton2 had a feeling a fake punt was coming 🧠@InsideTheNFL | @Chiefs pic.twitter.com/daTOa1jpVm
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) January 23, 2024
Hamlin was stopped shy of the first-down marker, and the Chiefs took over with excellent field position. They could have extended their lead on that drive, but Mecole Hardman’s fumble out of the end zone gave the Bills new life.
Still, the mic’d-up footage showed just how predictable the Bills were down the stretch. Fans had thoughts on the video as well.
This was how Twitter reacted
I love Nick Bolton https://t.co/lSsWPggimq
— Keaton (@kjonesy1587) January 23, 2024
"Watch the fake !!" #ChiefsKingdom @KCWE29 @KMBC https://t.co/eSP6t2IqBR
— Kris Ketz (@KrisKetzKMBC) January 23, 2024
His football IQ is off the charts! @LSHS_FBRecruits https://t.co/9OMFKeaQti
— Kelly Withee Harper (@drkharp) January 23, 2024
"Earmuffs" typically relates to ignoring any verbal calls and focusing on the ball so you don't get drawn offsides.
Heads up communication on the way off to alert about scenarios that typically happen in that area of the field/distance (fakes/hard counts). https://t.co/WT5wJsA6El
— Kent Swanson #KirklandKing (@kent_swanson) January 24, 2024
This was awesome https://t.co/h5uPT21P2P
— how bout those CHIEFS (@hbtCHIEFS) January 23, 2024
Our players are smarter than your players. https://t.co/Ae4DbR42xj
— Wicked King (@StangXx) January 23, 2024
Lfg Bolton
Criticized him in this game but dude's a baller in big moments https://t.co/cfneX9jn1Q
— Joe Summers (@IAmJoeSummers) January 24, 2024
IQ-100000000 https://t.co/UXftPw7uQc
— 💲‼️ (@IzzyNunez_) January 23, 2024
We all said right away the Hamlin fake was in the script but the Chiefs deviated. Bolton was the only one brave enough to tell them to wear their earmuffs and ignore the NFL script writers. https://t.co/bDBoVnXqu5
— Brenden Schaeffer🎳 (@bschaeffer12) January 24, 2024
