Chiefs’ Mahomes still starring with big money on horizon
KANSAS CITY, MO. >> The Kansas City Chiefs had just lost to the Tennessee Titans, their fourth defeat in the first 10 games of the season, and much of the optimism that surrounded the defending AFC champions had begun to evaporate amid the barbecue smoke that wafts over Arrowhead Stadium each autumn.
That’s when team owner Clark Hunt chose to speak publicly for the first time since training camp.
“We have had some outstanding players here over the years,” Hunt said with conviction, “but I don’t think we have had one like Patrick Mahomes in a very long time. Having him as the Chiefs quarterback really gives us an opportunity every year to be competitive and hopefully compete for an AFC championship, and ultimately a Super Bowl.” It turned out to be a prescient statement. The Chiefs haven’t lost since that point in Week 10, rolling through the rest of the regular season and climbing out of a 24-0 hole to beat Houston 51-31 in the divisional round of the playoffs. And they’ll aim to keep that roll going Sunday, when they get a rematch with the Titans at home with spot in the Super Bowl riding on the outcome.
Much of the credit belongs to Mahomes, who has quietly followed up his MVP season with another spectacular run. He eclipsed 4,000 yards passing despite missing two games with a serious knee injury, threw 26 touchdown passes against just five interceptions, and he was even better against the Texans last weekend.
Mahomes became the first player with at least 300 yards passing, 50 yards rushing and five TD throws in a playoff game, all while keeping the Chiefs in the right mindset as they embarked on the greatest comeback in franchise history. “Best quarterback in the NFL,” Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said. “He’ll prove it again next week.”
Mahomes may not have been the best this season, of course. But much to the chagrin of fantasy football diehards, statistics only tell part of the story, and the reality is Mahomes is a much better quarterback than he was as a first-time starter.