‘Legend of the game’ – Patrick Mahomes sweeps aside Kansas City issues to set new Chiefs record but Travis Kelce must wait
Patrick Mahomes made history for the Kansas City Chiefs on Black Friday. The defending Super Bowl champions become the first team this season to book their place in the NFL playoffs – with five games to spare and with Taylor Swift watching on from the stands. Mahomes set a record for the Chiefs with an impressive first half performanceGetty In the first half of their tight divisional showdown with the Las Vegas Raiders – the last team to beat them at Arrowhead – their star quarterback made some history of his own. Mahomes connected with Justin Watson in the second quarter for the opening – and ultimately only – touchdown for the Chiefs. Completing a six-yard pass as he was knocked to the floor, it was the 238th TD pass of Mahomes’ incredible career meaning he has now thrown more for Kansas City than anyone else. He was previously tied with Len Dawson. “A franchise leader in more ways than one. Congrats on another milestone,” the Chiefs wrote on X, celebrating the moment. “Passing his way into history,” said another fan. While a third summed up the three-peat chasing superstar’s place in the pantheon of the sport by simply saying: “Becoming a legend of the game.” Kansas City went into halftime with a 10-3 lead over the Raiders, and went on to win the game 19-17 in dramatic fashion. It was a far from vintage performance from the home team, and 2-9 Las Vegas had a chance to sneak a win by driving into field goal range with 15 seconds to play. But with what would have been the penultimate play, rookie OL Jackson Powers-Johnson snapped the ball too quickly to his unaware quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who couldn’t react in time and watched it bounce away. The Raiders came close to stealing a late victory against the Chiefs Mahomes has thrown more TDs than anyone else for Kansas CityGetty Images - Getty Nick Bolton recovered the ball for Kansas City, and ended the game. Scraping wins is becoming something of a speciality for the Chiefs, who have been involved in a number of close games in 2024. Thankfully for Mahomes and Co, they are a barely believable 9-0 in one-score games – an NFL record. Whether it’s a blocked field goal, a fourth-quarter kick of their own or recovering a late fumble, Kansas City are providing their fair share of drama. It doesn’t matter how you win them, as long as you win them. And while hopes of an unbeaten season were dashed by the Bills in Week 11, Mahomes insisted that the ‘ultimate’ goal for the Chiefs this year is to secure their third-straight Super Bowl. The Chiefs are looking to win a historic third-straight Super BowlGetty “The undefeated thing was cool,” Mahomes said after their only loss so far. “But that’s not our ultimate goal.” And while Mahomes broke a franchise record against the Raiders, his partner in crime Travis Kelce is still waiting to smash one of his own. The star tight end is hoping to becoming the player with the most receiving touchdowns in Chiefs history. The Chiefs are looking to win a historic third-straight Super BowlGetty https://twitter.com/NFLonPrime/status/1862594662332055747 He currently has 76, and has been tied with Tony Gonzalez for a couple of weeks, having been unable to find the end zone against the Buffalo Bills or Carolina Panthers. With the Chiefs now safely through to the postseason thanks to their impressive 11-1 record, Kelce’s personal milestone might become a priority in the final few weeks of the season – if they can also keep hold of the top seed. talkSPORT is your home of the NFL on UK radio, join us from 6pm on talkSPORT2 on Sunday for coverage of the Arizona Cardinals visit to the Minnesota Vikings Catch up on the latest from around the league on our dedicated NFL YouTube channel – and our weekly Rundown review show
Patrick Mahomes made history for the Kansas City Chiefs on Black Friday.
The defending Super Bowl champions become the first team this season to book their place in the NFL playoffs – with five games to spare and with Taylor Swift watching on from the stands.
In the first half of their tight divisional showdown with the Las Vegas Raiders – the last team to beat them at Arrowhead – their star quarterback made some history of his own.
Mahomes connected with Justin Watson in the second quarter for the opening – and ultimately only – touchdown for the Chiefs.
Completing a six-yard pass as he was knocked to the floor, it was the 238th TD pass of Mahomes’ incredible career meaning he has now thrown more for Kansas City than anyone else.
He was previously tied with Len Dawson.
“A franchise leader in more ways than one. Congrats on another milestone,” the Chiefs wrote on X, celebrating the moment.
“Passing his way into history,” said another fan.
While a third summed up the three-peat chasing superstar’s place in the pantheon of the sport by simply saying: “Becoming a legend of the game.”
Kansas City went into halftime with a 10-3 lead over the Raiders, and went on to win the game 19-17 in dramatic fashion.
It was a far from vintage performance from the home team, and 2-9 Las Vegas had a chance to sneak a win by driving into field goal range with 15 seconds to play.
But with what would have been the penultimate play, rookie OL Jackson Powers-Johnson snapped the ball too quickly to his unaware quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who couldn’t react in time and watched it bounce away.
Nick Bolton recovered the ball for Kansas City, and ended the game.
Scraping wins is becoming something of a speciality for the Chiefs, who have been involved in a number of close games in 2024.
Thankfully for Mahomes and Co, they are a barely believable 9-0 in one-score games – an NFL record.
Whether it’s a blocked field goal, a fourth-quarter kick of their own or recovering a late fumble, Kansas City are providing their fair share of drama.
It doesn’t matter how you win them, as long as you win them.
And while hopes of an unbeaten season were dashed by the Bills in Week 11, Mahomes insisted that the ‘ultimate’ goal for the Chiefs this year is to secure their third-straight Super Bowl.
“The undefeated thing was cool,” Mahomes said after their only loss so far.
“But that’s not our ultimate goal.”
And while Mahomes broke a franchise record against the Raiders, his partner in crime Travis Kelce is still waiting to smash one of his own.
The star tight end is hoping to becoming the player with the most receiving touchdowns in Chiefs history.
He currently has 76, and has been tied with Tony Gonzalez for a couple of weeks, having been unable to find the end zone against the Buffalo Bills or Carolina Panthers.
With the Chiefs now safely through to the postseason thanks to their impressive 11-1 record, Kelce’s personal milestone might become a priority in the final few weeks of the season – if they can also keep hold of the top seed.
talkSPORT is your home of the NFL on UK radio, join us from 6pm on talkSPORT2 on Sunday for coverage of the Arizona Cardinals visit to the Minnesota Vikings
Catch up on the latest from around the league on our dedicated NFL YouTube channel – and our weekly Rundown review show
