CBS Sports sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson has disputed claims that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes snubbed Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix following the Broncos' 28-24 comeback win on Sunday. A social media post suggested Mahomes had acted as a sore loser, but Wolfson, who was present at the game, directly addressed the accusation.
"This is absolutely not true," Wolfson stated on social media, responding to a now-deleted post from ML Football. "I was right there and Nix was on the other side of field when game ended and celebrating and took a while to get to Mahomes. They had a long conversation with Mahomes and Nix both showing respect for each other."
Video footage from CBS News Colorado corroborated Wolfson's account, showing Mahomes and Nix smiling and conversing before shaking hands and embracing. During their interaction, Nix told Mahomes, "I was scared to death when you got the ball back." Nix completed 20 of 32 passes for 222 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
The game's outcome was decided in its final moments. A potential game-winning touchdown pass from Mahomes to Rashee Rice was nullified by a false start penalty on Chiefs tackle Jaylon Moore. On the final play with four seconds remaining, Mahomes was sacked by Broncos defensive tackle Malcolm, ending the game.
Mahomes expressed frustration with the penalty call, stating, "A lot of times in those big moments, the little stuff doesn’t get called like that." He also took responsibility for being sacked before kicker Harrison Butker missed a 54-yard field goal that could have tied the game late in the fourth quarter. Mahomes finished the game completing 30 of 41 passes for 321 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Mahomes' wife, Brittany Mahomes, voiced her strong disagreement with the officiating on social media, calling the late penalty call "the weakest call I have ever seen" and suggesting it unfairly impacted the Chiefs. The Chiefs had held a double-digit lead in the second half, but the Broncos scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to secure the victory. Denver coach Sean Payton celebrated the win as his 200th career victory, praising his team's "grit."