After Sunday’s 17-10 upset win over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship, Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes is getting ready to play in his fourth Super Bowl in five years.
When people talk about the greatest players in history, the first thing they mention is hardware — and Mahomes has an eye on adding another Lombardi Trophy to the case at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs struggled during the regular season. Sometimes, the offense sputtered. Outside of the locker room, there were murmurs that the team might not have what it takes to run it back to the Super Bowl
But inside the locker room, it was a different story.
“We always had everything we wanted in front of us,” Mahomes told reporters after Sunday’s win. “We had that mindset… No one hung their head — and everybody was ready to go. And now we’re going to the Super Bowl.”
Mahomes believes that head coach Andy Reid’s ability to have a consistent approach — whether the team is winning or losing — has been a key factor.
“There’s no difference,” said the quarterback. “The only time I’ve seen coach Reid — like, kind of a little bit more excited — is after winning the Super Bowl. Other than that, it’s like [he’s] the same exact person.”
As Mahomes was going through his pregame warmups on Sunday, Ravens’ placekicker Justin Tucker tried to play head games with the opposing quarterback — but Mahomes seemed unfazed.
This was just another incident in a week full of people doubting that the Chiefs had what it would take to beat Baltimore.
Kansas City general manager Brett Veach doesn’t understand the thinking behind that kind of play against Mahomes.
“Why anyone would do that — throw shade at him like that?” he asked reporters after the game. “Because you know he’s going to give you his best shot anyway; there’s no need to poke the bear.
“But if they want to do it… well, we certainly appreciate it.”
Before the game, many had wondered whether Mahomes and the Chiefs could win postseason games on the road. There is much less doubt about that now.
“Yeah, it was cool,” he said, “just going into two hostile environments, having to come together as a team and to win those games and hold that trophy. It really was special.”
Reid was especially impressed by how well Mahomes played early in the game.
“Pat Mahomes did a great job — as he normally does,” noted Reid. “But starting the game off with 11 completions? That’s something something special.”
Reid and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy came out on a heater, dialing up one of the team’s best drives of the season. It gained 86 yards on 10 plays — and culminated with an amazing 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce.
