Chiefs’ Andy Reid Blasted for ‘Coaching Malpractice’ After Loss to Broncos

The first thing that struck Matt Sanderson was the eerie quiet. The forest had an unnatural stillness that evening, broken only by the distant echo of something that sounded almost like footsteps—but too deliberate, too heavy, to belong to any human. He had wandered off the beaten trail during a weekend hike, chasing the golden glow of the sunset through the canopy, and now he wished he hadn’t. That’s when he saw it: a creature crouched between two ancient oaks, its eyes reflecting the fading light like twin lanterns. Matt froze, heart pounding, as the figure tilted its head, almost inquisitively, before vanishing into the shadows as suddenly as it appeared.

Few would have predicted such a bizarre encounter from the suburbs of Denver, a place where the nearest wilderness was typically bustling with hikers, joggers, and the occasional wildlife enthusiast. Yet, Matt’s story spread quickly, shared across social media feeds and local news outlets—not because of the forest itself, but because of the uncanny parallel he drew between what he witnessed and the recent chaos on the football field. Andy Reid, the venerable head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, had just overseen one of the most confounding losses of his career against the Denver Broncos. Fans weren’t just disappointed—they were livid. The words “coaching malpractice” trended within hours, a phrase that captured both the frustration and incredulity of the Chiefs’ faithful.

Reid, a coach celebrated for decades of innovation, had made a series of decisions that left analysts scratching their heads. In the fourth quarter, with the Chiefs trailing by ten, Reid opted for a conservative play-calling strategy despite having a fully healthy offensive line and a quarterback—Patrick Mahomes—who had repeatedly demonstrated the ability to improvise under pressure. The result was a stagnant drive that culminated in a turnover on downs. Social media exploded. Clips of the play went viral: commentators gesturing in disbelief, fans yelling into phones, and even former players weighing in on ESPN and NFL Network.

It wasn’t just the play-calling. The pregame preparation appeared to have faltered as well. Analysts noted that the Chiefs seemed unable to adjust to Denver’s unconventional defensive formations. Blitzes came from unexpected angles, leaving Mahomes scrambling and receivers frequently wide open yet uncaught. “It was like watching a different team on the field,” said former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb in a postgame segment. “Andy Reid is brilliant, but today, he looked lost.”

Back in the forest, Matt had no idea how connected his solitude would feel to a citywide conversation about strategy and chaos. He wandered deeper, following faint trails created by animals, when the creature reappeared. This time it was closer, stepping with deliberate slowness. Its skin—or whatever covered its body—glimmered with a strange, metallic sheen. It didn’t move like a predator, nor did it flee like prey. It simply observed. Matt, usually fearless, felt a pang of hesitation that mirrored the uncertainty Chiefs fans experienced every time a questionable call left Mahomes on the sideline while the clock ticked down.

The history between Reid and the Broncos added another layer of intrigue. Denver had historically been a nemesis for the Chiefs, with games often decided by a single turnover or a missed opportunity. Analysts pointed to previous matchups in 2015 and 2018, where Reid had been criticized for failing to adapt midgame. Yet, the current loss was particularly galling: the Chiefs had dominated earlier in the season, boasting a near-perfect record, only to see it unravel in front of thousands of fans at Empower Field at Mile High. Ticket holders, both local and visiting, expressed their outrage across Twitter, TikTok, and Reddit threads, many using memes to encapsulate their frustration. One viral post juxtaposed footage of the forest creature with Mahomes scrambling, captioned: “Even the forest is more unpredictable than Reid’s playbook today.”

Inside the locker room, Reid maintained his composure, though even his closest assistants admitted the loss stung. Veteran players like Travis Kelce were caught on camera speaking candidly about the team’s morale. “We didn’t execute, and that’s on all of us,” Kelce said. “But some of the calls… I don’t know. That was tough to watch.” Analysts debated whether Reid’s decisions were indicative of strategic conservatism or a rare lapse in judgment. Sports psychologists weighed in, noting the immense pressure on a coach of Reid’s caliber and the potential impact of public scrutiny on team cohesion.

Meanwhile, Matt’s encounter escalated in the forest. The creature, now illuminated by the last streaks of twilight, emitted a sound—a low, resonant hum that seemed almost musical. It was as if it were communicating, offering insight without words, a presence both alien and intimate. In a moment of instinctive curiosity, Matt reached out, and the creature mirrored him, step by slow step, until the sound dissipated with the wind. It left him with a sensation of clarity, the kind that comes only from witnessing something entirely inexplicable. Fans of the Chiefs might have related: the sense that something unseen, something fundamentally unpredictable, had just altered the course of events beyond their control.

A Star Player Underutilized

For the first half, Rice looked like himself. He hauled in five catches for 35 yards off seven targets, generating energy for an offense that often relied on his speed and ability to create big plays. But the second half told a different story. Rice was only targeted twice after halftime, catching just one of those passes for three yards. In the fourth quarter, he didn’t see a single pass thrown his way.

Fans noticed immediately. Social media erupted with criticism, and analysts weighed in, questioning why the Chiefs “went away from their easy button” when the game was still very much within reach. “Not involving Rashee Rice this entire second half is coaching malpractice by Andy Reid,” tweeted one fan, while another added that the Chiefs were effectively using Rice as a “decoy” rather than a primary weapon.

Even Arrowhead Addict analyst Adam Best expressed frustration: “Drops happen. Can’t just ignore your most dynamic playmaker who can win quickly and defang the pass rush.”

It wasn’t just the lack of targets that drew ire. Many plays in the second half saw Rice motioned into the backfield as a running back or positioned in the flats, where he drew defenders but was rarely an active part of the play. While he was technically on the field, his routes and involvement were designed more to occupy defenders than to produce tangible offensive yardage.

Mahomes’ Checkdowns and Offensive Hesitation

Part of the story lies with Patrick Mahomes, who completed 64.4% of his passes against the Broncos — a subpar figure for a quarterback accustomed to elite efficiency. Most of Mahomes’ completions went to tight end Travis Kelce, who finished 9 of 13 for 91 yards and a touchdown. Tyquan Thornton and Hollywood Brown had limited impact, combining for just seven catches for 65 yards.

Yet Mahomes’ focus on Kelce and checkdown options may have been influenced by play design. When Rice motioned into unconventional positions, Mahomes rarely looked his way, effectively turning the receiver into a non-factor in crucial moments. Analysts have questioned whether this is a coaching issue, a quarterback decision, or a combination of both. The simplest answer, according to fans, is that Rice should have been involved more — period.

“Where is our WR1 Rashee Rice???? Shouldn’t we throw him the ball???” one frustrated fan asked on social media. Another suggested Rice looked “tired of playing glorified running back,” highlighting the perception that his talents were not being maximized in real-time.

Reid’s Decision-Making Under Scrutiny

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, known for his offensive creativity and historical ability to adapt midgame, did not directly address Rice’s lack of targets in his postgame press conference. That absence of comment did little to quell frustration among the fanbase.

Rice’s underutilization was especially puzzling given the team’s history with him. Returning from an early-season suspension, he had shown he could be a game-changing playmaker when deployed effectively. By largely ignoring him in the second half, the Chiefs seemed to undercut one of their most reliable explosive threats.

While the Broncos’ defense was formidable — one of the best in the league, particularly at home — Kansas City’s offense relies on speed, timing, and the vertical threat of Rice to stretch the field. Ignoring that weapon in the game’s decisive moments left many scratching their heads.

Statistical Context

By the end of the game, Rice’s numbers were modest: six receptions for 38 yards. For a receiver of his caliber, these were disappointing totals, especially considering his contributions earlier in the season. Meanwhile, Kelce continued his steady production, and Mahomes completed passes to multiple other options.

Rice’s limited second-half targets marked his lowest involvement since returning from suspension, a notable deviation from his expected role in the Chiefs’ offense. Analysts pointed to this as a key reason Kansas City struggled to close the gap against Denver in the second half, ultimately falling 27–19.