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Patrick Mahomes didn’t need a big day through the air to keep the Kansas City Chiefs undefeated.

With the defending champions’ defense dominating and run game controlling the clock, all the superstar quarterback needed to do in Sunday’s Super Bowl rematch was make timely plays when the Chiefs needed them most.

Mahomes accomplished that goal in Kansas City’s 28-18 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, but not without some major resulting acrimony. Arguably his biggest play of the game came late in the third quarter, when Mahomes scrambled down the sideline for a 33-yard gain, the longest rush of his career.

What followed was the widespread belief among fans and opposing players alike that Mahomes intentionally flouted NFL rules that prioritize protecting quarterbacks, supposedly faking as if he was going out of bounds before continuing down the sideline.

“We’re always in a tough spot as a defense, it’s that fine line you have to toe,” 49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown said, per KNBR. “It’s tough, quarterbacks fake going out of bounds then stay in bounds. There’s decisions you have to make.”

Mahomes addressed the play on Tuesday, insisting he simply scrambled through traffic as the play developed around him.

“I was stopping and was going to try to just get the first down and I haven’t seen the play, but the dude either overran or got a little bit of a block there,” he said, per Andrew Garcia of Chiefs Wire. “So, once I got on the sideline it opened up and I was able to get down there and I thought about cutting it back but, I’ll save that for the playoffs. Right now I’ll just continue to run out of bounds.”

Ngôi sao của Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes, phải vật lộn với 49ers.

Seemingly lost in the discourse surrounding Mahomes’ game-changing run was the instrumental role played by teammate Kareem Hunt.

Kansas City’s veteran running back shoved San Francisco linebacker Dee Winters as Mahomes turned the corner, increasing the defender’s momentum toward the sideline and allowing the three-time Super Bowl MVP just enough space to continue down the field.

Still, reasonable minds can disagree on Mahomes’ intent in real time. What’s not up for debate is that two of the league’s longtime powers are heading opposite directions, with the Chiefs entering Week 7 at 6-0 and 49ers needing to regroup at 3-4.