Signature Playbooks

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Lore & Background

The "Jet Chip Wasp" originates from a pivotal moment midway through the fourth quarter when the Chiefs trailed 20-10 with under eight minutes remaining. On their own 35-yard line facing third-and-15, quarterback Patrick Mahomes asked coordinator Eric Bieniemy for time to run the play. Designed with Travis Kelce on a stutter-cross and Sammy Watkins running a deep square-in as a decoy, the play relied on Mahomes dropping back 14 yards under pressure from DeForest Buckner. Despite being tackled immediately upon release, Mahomes launched a 57.1-yard air-distance pass to an open Hill. This specific design, which had seen success in the 2018 AFC Championship against New England, was perfectly executed against the 49ers' zone coverage, where cornerback Emmanuel Moseley and safety Jimmie Ward lost track of their assignments.

In Their Own Story

The digital stadium echoed with the tension of a 3rd-and-15 on the Chiefs' own 35-yard line. In the pause before the snap, Mahomes signaled for "Wasp." As the ball was snapped, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner collapsed the pocket, forcing Mahomes to drop back 14 yards. While the offensive line held just long enough, the 49ers' zone coverage began to unravel. Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley cut forward to cover Watkins, leaving the middle open, while safety Jimmie Ward anticipated a crossing route and stepped inward. In that split second of defensive confusion, Mahomes released the ball without planting his feet. The throw traveled 57.1 yards through the air—the longest completion distance for Mahomes in the entire 2019 season—finding Tyreek Hill open near the sideline. The crowd roared as the play secured the first giant chunk of yardage that would eventually lead to a 31-20 victory.

Reader's Guide

To execute the Jet Chip Wasp in Madden NFL 20, select the Kansas City Chiefs and navigate to their offensive playbook where this specific formation has been added. The play requires precise timing due to the heavy pressure expected from a four-man rush. Align the top three receivers—Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Sammy Watkins—on the same side of the field as per the original design. When the ball is snapped, be prepared for Mahomes to drop back significantly under pressure; do not panic if he is immediately hit by a defensive lineman like DeForest Buckner. The key to success lies in reading the zone coverage: hold off on releasing the ball until you see the cornerback (Emmanuel Moseley) or safety (Jimmie Ward) bite on the decoy routes run by Watkins and Kelce. Once the middle of the field is vacated, launch a deep throw toward the sideline where Hill will have cut sharply away from the coverage. This play is most effective on third-and-long situations, mirroring its real-world debut.

Did You Know?

• The play is also referred to as "2-3 Jet Chip Wasp" in NFL Films archives.
• Mahomes' 57.1-yard throw was the longest air-distance of any completion he made during the entire 2019 season.
• The design was previously used successfully by the Chiefs in the 2018 AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots.
• NFL officially ranked Jet Chip Wasp as the number one play of the 2019 season.
• Broadcasters Joe Buck and Troy Aikman noted that Mahomes had missed open receivers earlier in the game before executing this critical throw.