It’s a pretty short sample size for the Chiefs’ young quarterback. But Patrick Mahomes has been fairly sensational in the playoffs.
He took over as the franchise’s starting quarterback spot in his second NFL season in 2018. The club had been to the playoffs in four of the previous five years under head coach Andy Reid but had not enjoyed a lot of postseason success. But things have changed dramatically for the Kansas City Chiefs with Patrick Mahomes at the controls. And nowhere has that been more than evident than when playoff time rolls around.
Seven postseason games since 2018 and with Mahomes at quarterback has produced six victories The club has hosted three straight AFC title games and are on their way to their second consecutive Super Bowl and in position to capture a second consecutive Lombardi Trophy.
Prior to his arrival, an organization that was born in 1960 and was originally known as the Dallas Texans owned a 9-18 postseason record. The club had its share of success in the early days, winning an AFL title in 1962, losing Super Bowl I to the Green Bay Packers, and capturing Super Bowl IV by manhandling the Minnesota Vikings. But there were also eight consecutive playoff losses from 1993-2013. Reid owned a 1-4 postseason record with the club in his first four seasons at the controls and a few of those in excruciating fashion.
Enter Mahomes. The Chiefs have scored at least 31 points in six of his seven playoff appearances The lone exception was this year’s 22-17 home win over the Browns in which he exited the game in the third quarter. The talented pro’s postseason resume is already pretty impressive. He’s connected on 65.5 percent of his passes for 2,054 yards and 17 scores with only two interceptions. Both of those came in the Super Bowl LIV victory over the San Francisco 49ers. And what’s really notable is that those picks are his lone turnovers in seven postseason contests. Mahomes has fumbled six time but none of those miscues wound up in the hands of the other team.
Of course, the three-time Pro Bowler has gotten it done other ways. He’s overcome 15 sacks and had also run for a combined 173 yards and four touchdowns.
And Mahomes has enjoyed quite the 2020 postseason. In six-plus quarters and wins over Cleveland and Buffalo, there’s a 73.5 completion percentage (50-of-68), good for 580 yards, four TDs, and zero interceptions – as well as one rushing touchdown. He’s been sacked once and has not committed a turnover. And he will give the Bucs an awful lot to think about on Super Sunday.
