Chiefs celebrating Mahomes’ big day — on his birthday
Patrick Mahomes had just thrown six touchdown passes in a record-setting performance against the Steelers, one that gave the Chiefs a big road win and may have stamped them as the AFC’s top team, when someone asked him how he planned to celebrate his birthday.
Mahomes said he planned to watch film of the San Francisco 49ers.
If that was merely the politically correct answer, though, and the 23-year-old firstyear starter planned to hit the town, he should have no shortage of Chiefs fans willing to buy him drinks.
They’ll probably still be celebrating St. Patrick’s big day.
“I don’t think that you could expect more from anyone,” said Chris Conley, one of five different receivers to catch a TD pass.
“He’s handled the times where he’s made the plays really well. He’s handled the times where he hasn’t. That speaks volumes.”
To be frank, there haven’t been many times where he hasn’t made the plays.
Mahomes was so dynamic in a Week 17 win at Denver last season that the Chiefs traded away Pro Bowl quarterback Alex Smith and gave Mahomes the starting job.
Then he threw four TD passes without a pick in a near-flawless performance in a road win over the AFC West-rival Chargers to open the season.
But his performance in Pittsburgh, where the Chiefs hadn’t won a game since 1986, was the kind of transcendent display that Chiefs fans have been pining for since Len Dawson was taking snaps.
Mahomes was 23 of 28 for 326 yards, which means he threw more touchdown passes than incompletions. He made all the right checks, scrambled when the opportunity presented itself, and kept his poise when the Chiefs squandered a 21-point first-quarter lead by engineering a near-flawless second half.
“Everybody knew how strong of an arm he has,” Steelers cornerback Mike Hilton said, “and he was making some decent throws, and his playmakers made plays.”
Yes, it helps to have a dizzying array of talent surrounding him.
Kareem Hunt ran for 75 yards to provide just enough offensive balance. Travis Kelce had seven catches for 109 yards and two scores, and Sammy Watkins had six catches for 100 yards, lest anybody worry after their quiet openers against the Chargers.
Tyreek Hill added five catches for 90 yards, all in the second half, with another touchdown to punctuate his typically stellar outing.