Chiefs TE Travis Kelce explains the lateral in Week 5 vs. Saints: 'It's like fast-break basketball'

The unexpected highlight play by Travis Kelce in the Kansas City Chiefs Week 5 victory over the New Orleans Saints was impressive and careless, depending on various opinions.

During the latest episode of the New Heights podcast, Travis explained his viral and controversial lateral during last Monday’s game and compared it to basketball.

“I had no idea that he had a chip or anything on the backside. I was reversing (the) field. I felt guys over…and I was like, more yards going this way, but then I realized I couldn’t get more.” said Kelce. “There’s a guy in red over here. I just feel him…, it’s like fast-break basketball. You just running the lane.”

Veteran running back Samaje Perine, who received the lateral, brought the Chiefs within a yard of the first down. He also earned plenty of respect in the locker room and with Kelce for his heads-up play.

“You can’t just throw it on me. It’s Samaje, unbelievable job by Perine to actually be ready because he was kind of, like, shuffling,” said Kelce as the veteran running back just went with the flow of the unexpected lateral to get positive yardage. “That’s a ball player right there.”

The Chiefs are off this week on a bye, giving fans more time to rewatch the play and enjoy an undefeated start to the season.