by The Rise of Patrick Mahomes: Career-Defining Moments
Patrick Mahomes has quickly established himself as one of the most electrifying and talented quarterbacks in the NFL. In just four seasons as a starter, he has amassed an MVP award, a Super Bowl championship, and numerous mind-boggling statistical performances. While Mahomes is known for having several incredible games throughout his career, there aren’t any single games that definitively launched him into superstardom. However, a couple of games stand out for showcasing his otherworldly talent and clutch playmaking ability under pressure. These career-defining moments helped cement Mahomes’ status as the face of the Kansas City Chiefs franchise and one of the league’s premier quarterbacks.
Super Bowl LIV
Mahomes’ first Super Bowl victory in 2020 against the San Francisco 49ers was undoubtedly the biggest moment of his young career so far. After leading the Chiefs to their first Super Bowl appearance in 50 years, Mahomes had the opportunity to cement his legacy by winning it all. However, the 49ers jumped out to an early 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, putting the pressure on Mahomes to deliver in the biggest game of his life.
And deliver he did. Mahomes calmly led two late scoring drives to take the lead. He finished with 286 passing yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. His poise and clutch play down the stretch earned him the Super Bowl MVP award at just 24 years old. Mahomes became the youngest quarterback ever to win both the Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP. More importantly, he delivered Kansas City its first Lombardi Trophy in over 50 years and sparked a Super Bowl championship celebration that had been decades in the making.
The magnitude and pressure of the Super Bowl stage could break even the most seasoned of veterans. But Mahomes thrived under those conditions and willed his team to victory with spectacular throws and smart decision-making when the game was on the line. His star-making performance on football’s biggest stage announced his arrival among the elite quarterbacks in the league and solidified his status as the new face of the NFL. With his combination of athleticism, arm talent, and clutch gene, Mahomes proved he has what it takes to win championships when the stakes are at their highest.
2018 Divisional Round vs Texans
While the Super Bowl was Mahomes’ crowning achievement, one of the defining games that showed his knack for leading epic comebacks came in just his first playoff appearance. In the 2018 AFC Divisional Round against the Houston Texans, Mahomes put on a performance for the ages in rallying the Chiefs back from a 24-point deficit.
The game didn’t start well for Kansas City, as they fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter. But Mahomes refused to let his team fold, leading two quick scoring drives to cut the deficit to 21-14. However, Houston still maintained a comfortable 17-point lead going into the fourth quarter. Most teams would have waved the white flag down three scores with time running out. But not with Mahomes under center.
He began the fourth quarter with another touchdown pass to trim the lead to 10 points. Then, after the defense forced a rare Texans punt, Mahomes took over with just over 5 minutes remaining. In trademark fashion, he conducted a six-play, 90-yard scoring drive that culminated in a quick-strike touchdown to make it a 3-point game. The defense held once more, and Mahomes got the ball back with around 2 minutes left and a chance to complete the epic comeback.
Facing third down from the Houston 35-yard line, Mahomes dropped back and launched a perfect pass down the sideline to receiver Travis Kelce, who tip-toed the sideline for a go-ahead touchdown with just over a minute left. The defense sealed the win in overtime to complete one of the greatest playoff comebacks in NFL history. Mahomes finished with over 300 passing yards and four total touchdowns in the instant classic.
The magnitude of overcoming a 24-point deficit on the road against a divisional rival on the biggest stage cannot be overstated. Mahomes showed the heart of a champion and proved he had the clutch gene required to win in crunch time. His performance immediately announced him as a rising star and signaled that the Chiefs had found their franchise quarterback for the next decade. The comeback solidified Mahomes’ place in Kansas City sports lore and gave Chiefs fans hope that a Super Bowl championship was within reach.
Continued Success
Since those early career-defining moments, Mahomes has only cemented his status as the best quarterback in the NFL. He followed up his MVP and Super Bowl championship in his first two seasons as a starter by signing a 10-year contract extension worth up to $503 million, the richest contract in sports history. The deal ensures he will likely finish his entire career in Kansas City.
In the two seasons since his breakout 2018 campaign, Mahomes has continued shattering records and leading the Chiefs to success. He has maintained an incredible stat line, averaging over 4,800 passing yards and 40 touchdowns per season the past three years. Mahomes has led Kansas City to four consecutive AFC Championship games and back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, a remarkable feat of consistency.
While he hasn’t been able to win a second ring yet, Mahomes’ play rarely dips below spectacular. He makes the difficult look routine with his combination of arm talent, athleticism, and football IQ. The Chiefs offense breaks records season after season with Mahomes orchestrating everything. He makes those around him better with his ability to extend plays and fit throws into tight windows.
At only 26 years old, Mahomes is still reaching the peak of his powers. Barring injury, he has a strong case as the best quarterback prospect of this generation. With a high-powered offense built around his talents, Mahomes and the Chiefs are a threat to reach the Super Bowl every season. He has cemented his status as the face of the franchise in Kansas City and one of the faces of the entire NFL.
While Mahomes has had many brilliant performances throughout his young career, a couple games in particular—Super Bowl LIV and the 2018 playoff epic against Houston—showcased his otherworldly talent and clutch abilities under pressure. Those career-defining moments announced his arrival among the elite and gave Chiefs fans hope that championships were within reach. So far, Mahomes has lived up to the lofty expectations with his incredible play, making Kansas City title contenders on an annual basis. As long as he remains healthy, the sky remains the limit for this generational quarterback.
