- Patrick Mahomes accuses Justin Tucker of trying to play mind games before AFC Championship Game
- Mahomes confronts Tucker about his position on the field during warm-ups
- Despite incident, Chiefs win and look ahead to Super Bowl LVIII against the 49ers
Additional Coverage:
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has accused Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker of trying to get under the Chiefs’ skin before the AFC Championship Game. The incident occurred during pregame warm-ups when Mahomes and teammate Travis Kelce confronted Tucker about his position on the field. Tucker downplayed the incident, but Mahomes believes it was a deliberate attempt by the kicker to play mind games with the defending Super Bowl champions. Mahomes shared his thoughts on the situation during an interview on The Drive on Audacy’s 610 Sports Radio.
According to Mahomes, he asked Tucker to move his belongings, but the kicker only moved them a couple of inches and didn’t fully clear the area. Kelce then intervened and moved Tucker’s things out of the way. Mahomes expressed his frustration with Tucker’s actions and stated that he wouldn’t allow him to put his belongings back down.
This isn’t the first time Mahomes has encountered similar issues before games against the Ravens. However, he emphasized his respect for Tucker as a player, acknowledging him as one of the best kickers of all time. Mahomes believes that while players should have respect for each other, it’s crucial to maintain a respectful atmosphere on the field.
Despite the pregame incident, the Chiefs emerged victorious in the AFC Championship Game. With their focus now shifted to the Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers, Mahomes and his team can put the Tucker incident behind them.