newsweek
The New England Patriots showcased a bit of trickery during their dominant 45-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium on Sunday. Second-year wide receiver Efton Chism III, who stepped into the starting lineup due to injuries to A.J. Brown and Mack Hollins, executed a unique play on one of his six catches. On a third-and-long situation, Chism lateraled the ball backward to running back TreVeyon Henderson, who took it the rest of the way for a first down.
Quarterback Drake Maye praised Chism for his ingenuity on the play. Wide receiver DeMario Douglas called it a brilliant move. Head coach Mike Vrabel chuckled when asked about it during his postgame press conference. Yet Chism deflected the credit, insisting that offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels had designed the play.
Key Analysis
Chism's reluctance to take credit, coupled with his grin, suggests the play might have been improvised rather than scripted. He hinted at secrecy, saying, "I've got nothing on that. It was (drawn up). A little bit. A little bit. I don't want to give away any secrets." Such ambiguity is not uncommon at One Patriot Place, where gamesmanship often blurs the line between fact and fiction.
Originally reported by newsweek.