Which self-deprecating Mahomes credits for goal-line hit on Mustapha originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
It wasn’t pretty, but Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs powered their way to a decisive 28-18 victory over the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday.
The game was close until Kansas City pulled away in the fourth quarter, starting with Mahomes’ rushing touchdown on fourth-and-goal from the 49ers’ 1-yard line.
With the Chiefs leading 14-12 and 14:17 left in the game, Mahomes raced up the middle and sent San Francisco rookie safety Malik Mustapha on the goal line.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Mahomes was asked if he reached out about the play and hilariously credited his “dad body” with being able to absorb the hit.
“No, I wasn’t actually trying to drop my shoulder,” Mahomes said after the game. “I tried to take the hit because I knew I was going to be right there in the end zone. And that daddy body guy. I had enough weight where he crashed. So it wasn’t that I necessarily sought contact. I tried to absorb it and get into the end zone and it ended up looking good for me.
“The last time I dropped my shoulder was against Iowa State and I had an AC sprain and then Iowa State beat me by 56 points. So I stayed away from that.”
Fans on social media had fun with the play…
Mustapha reacted confidently after the game, taking to social media to address his viral “welcome to the NFL” moment.
Mustapha delivered several hard hits in the match, most notably on Chiefs chasing Kareem Hunt in the first quarter, but speaking to reporters after the match, it was the strike he got on the receiving end that stood out the most.
“I have the feeling that I also ended up in a truck later, so those hits really don’t mean anything,” Mustapha said after the match. “They always remember that one play, so I just try to do my part. Sometimes I got it. I have to look in the mirror and get better.”
Mustapha and the 49ers will look to erase Sunday’s loss as quickly as possible before preparing for another big game against the Dallas Cowboys on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” in Week 8 at Levi’s Stadium.
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