SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Let go of the visuals. As the Kansas City Chiefs held a slim two-point advantage near the start of the fourth quarter, coach Andy Reid decided to gamble on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, and Patrick Mahomes wasn’t about to take unnecessary risks.

The moment seemed right when Mahomes received the ball in the shotgun formation and scanned his options, noticing a slight opening. He quickly charged down the middle.

Now, here comes the misinterpretation. Mahomes was headed straight for 49ers rookie safety Malik Mustapha at the goal line. He braced himself and powered in for the touchdown.

In football terms, it might appear as though Mahomes “trucked” the defender.

“Honestly, I wasn’t really trying to lower my shoulder,” Mahomes clarified after leading his team to a 28-18 win in the Super Bowl 58 rematch at Levi’s Stadium. “I was just trying to brace for the hit because I knew I was already in the end zone.”

“And that ‘dad bod’ gives me enough weight to go down. It wasn’t a matter of seeking contact; I was just trying to absorb it and score, and it turned out to look good for me.”

In essence, don’t trust just your eyes. During Week 7, long before we discover whether the Chiefs will realistically pursue a third consecutive Super Bowl title, Mahomes is smart enough not to jeopardize himself or his team for reckless plays.

Take Mahomes’ word for it.

“The last time I tried to lower my shoulder was back in college against Iowa State, and I ended up with an AC sprain. Plus, Iowa State crushed us by 56 points. So, I’ve avoided that ever since.”

It’s noteworthy that Mahomes’ running became a hot discussion after the game. He set up the game-winning touchdown by executing a 33-yard scramble—the longest run of his career to date—which involved a clever pump fake and a quick juke that threw off defender Dee Winters, creating space for Mahomes to move. Moreover, Mahomes’ choice to run rather than pass from the 1-yard mark ties into a larger strategy.

Interestingly, Mahomes recorded the lowest passer rating of his career in this game (44.4), and this is the second consecutive game without a touchdown pass.

These surprising stats from one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks haven’t occurred out of nowhere. This season, Mahomes has thrown more interceptions (8) than touchdowns (6). If this continues, his passer rating of 82.5 would mark the lowest since his rookie year.

Despite these challenges, the Chiefs (6-0) remain the only undefeated team in the NFL.

“What you’ve seen from us isn’t the norm because we aren’t racking up passing touchdowns,” Mahomes said. “There have been quite a few turnovers, especially on my end. This shows our team’s adaptability. It’s not all about me or flashy stats; it’s about teamwork.”

“I believe that with ongoing effort, we will improve our passing game. But for now, it’s reassuring to have a solid running game and a strong defense, enabling us to win when it matters.”

Imagine how formidable the Chiefs will be once Mahomes finds his rhythm. The defense, led by All-Pro tackle Chris Jones and crafted by coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, continues to excel in its own progress. It’s worth noting that two of the three interceptions off 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy were achieved by rookies Chris Roland-Wallace and Jaden Hicks.

“Spags does an amazing job with the various schemes and personnel,” Reid remarked, showing appreciation for Spagnuolo’s coaching. “Considering two rookies can step in and contribute, he certainly knows how to put them in a position to succeed. He’s the best in the business at what he does.”

The same can be said for Reid, who is tasked with maintaining smooth offensive flow amidst numerous injuries affecting Mahomes’ supporting players. Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is still sidelined due to a shoulder injury sustained in preseason, while second-year standout Rashee Rice suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. These challenges have complicated the offseason goal of improving the receiving corps, now leading to a more adaptive approach. On Sunday, JuJu Smith-Schuster, who was brought back as a free agent, aggravated a hamstring injury.

Reid was also faced with coping with the absence of dynamic running back Isiah Pacheco, who sustained a reported fractured ankle in Week 2. Interestingly, Kareem Hunt, who started with the Chiefs in 2017 and led the league in rushing, returned as a free agent after his release from the Browns. On Sunday, he showcased his skills, rushing for 78 yards and scoring two touchdowns.

“Eventually, we’ll see our guys return,” Reid stated. “What I appreciate most is players stepping up and others believing in them, along with the coaching staff supporting them.”

As Mahomes mentioned, the Chiefs have proven they can win in various ways. These “other” Chiefs, triumphing without spectacular performances from Mahomes or his trusty sidekick, Travis Kelce, are quite impressive too. Or perhaps a bit ruggedly impressive.

In their matchup against the 49ers, the Chiefs rushed for 184 yards, utilizing effective blocking strategies that resulted in significant plays through jet sweeps and successful drives toward the goal line. Resourcefulness played a key role as Kansas City scored touchdowns on four out of five red zone visits.

Hardman achieved considerable success with a couple of jet sweeps, which included an 18-yard touchdown run. Additionally, he contributed to a score with a remarkable 55-yard punt return. On the other hand, Noah Gray, the secondary tight end, stood out by leading the team with 66 receiving yards from four catches.

This brings to mind: what has happened to Carson Steele? In Week 3, the fullback had a prominent role, rushing for 72 yards. However, in the subsequent three games, he has only managed 35 yards.

The Chiefs’ strategy seems to possess elements of unpredictability every week. There’s still a lot of the season left to play.

“I have immense appreciation for every single player on this team because we embody the ‘next man up’ mentality,” Kelce expressed. Although he had a modest performance with four catches for 17 yards, his contribution through crucial blocks was significant. “Everyone understands their position, and they’re eager for the chance to prove that we have all the resources necessary for winning the championship.”

“I believe our roles will continue to evolve,” Kelce noted. “Each person’s contribution will expand as the season progresses.”

This certainly sounds like a signal to the rest of the NFL.