Ranking Patrick Mahomes’ Top 10 greatest playoff games
Patrick Mahomes has produced better playoff statistics than most NFL players achieve during their entire careers. Already one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time, the former Texas Tech star answered back-to-back Super Bowl championships with a perfect 9-0 start in 2024. Patrick Mahomes has some of the best playoff stats in NFL historyGetty After watching as a rookie backup as the Kansas City Chiefs fell 22-21 to Tennessee in a 2017 AFC wild card game, Mahomes has played in 18 playoff games. He has a sparkling 15-3 postseason record, which includes a 3-1 mark in the Super Bowl and three big game MVPs. Mahomes’ overall playoff numbers are equally impressive, highlighted by a 67.9 completion percentage, 5,315 passing yards and 41 touchdowns compared to just eight interceptions. The Chiefs are Super Bowl contenders again in 2024 while fighting off the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions for the best record in the NFL. Below talkSPORT ranks Mahomes’ greatest playoff games. 10. Chiefs 22, Browns 17 (2020 AFC Divisional Round) Statistics: 21-of-30, 255 yards, TD, 106.9 rating The Red Raider beat the Sooner. Mahomes outperformed Baker Mayfield in a game where Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill both collected more than 100 receiving yards. Mahomes was forced to leave the contest due to a consussion. But he was highly efficient through two-plus quarters, then cheered on Chad Henne. As the veteran backup pulled off a 13-yard scramble and fourth-down completion to Hill, Mahomes took pride in a true team win. “#HenneThingIsPossible,” Mahomes tweeted. The postseason has brought out the best in Showtime MahomesGetty Images - Getty 9. Chiefs 27, Jaguars 20 (2022 AFC Divisional Round) Stats: 22-of-30, 195 yards, 2 TD, 112.5 rating In a tight game that saw Henne complete 5-of-7 passes for 23 yards and a TD for a sparkling 114.9 rating, Mahomes was even more efficient. After an injured right ankle saw the rising star beg head coach Andy Reid to allow him to stay in the game, Mahomes underwent X-rays, then returned to guide Kansas City to a win-sealing 75-yard TD drive in the fourth quarter. “I’m not coming out of a playoff game unless they take me out,” Mahomes said. His legend was growing and he added another tough playoff W to his football legacy. 8. Patriots 37, Chiefs 31 in overtime (2018 AFC Championship) Stats: 16-of-31, 295 yards, 3 TD, 117 rating Tom Brady won. But Mahomes was just getting started. This is the only defeat on the list, but it also represented a changing of the guard in the NFL. While Brady threw for 348 yards, he was also picked off twice. Mahomes was brilliant, passing for 295 yards, three TDs, no picks and a 117 rating. The Chiefs scored 31 second-half points in Mahomes’ first AFC Championship. Four Super Bowls and three championship rings would soon follow. “They had no quit. Neither did we,” Brady said. “We played our best football at the end. “I don’t know, man, I’m tired. That was a hell of a game.” GettyMahomes traded blows with Tom Brady and almost stole the show[/caption] 7. Chiefs 35, Titans 24 (2019 AFC Championship) Stats: 23-of-35, 294 yards, 3 TD, 120.4 rating The best player on the field in the 2019 AFC Championship was soon a first-time Super Bowl winner. Mahomes led Kansas City to 14 fourth-quarter points, while a 27-yard toe tap down the sideline propelled the Chiefs to their first big game since 1970. “It’s amazing,” Mahomes said. “It really is. “To be here, to be a part of Chiefs Kingdom and to be able to do it here at Arrowhead, these people deserve it. And we’re not done yet.” Kansas City produced more than 400 yards of offense, collected 27 first downs, and was 6-of-10 on third down. 6. Chiefs 42, Bills 36 in OT (2021 Divisional Round) Stats: 33-of-44, 378 yards, 3 TD, 123.1 rating Mahomes was so good the NFL was forced to change its rules. Buffalo led 36-33 with 13 seconds left in regulation inside a cold and stunned Arrowhead Stadium. “When it’s grim, be the grim reaper,” Reid told Mahomes. Mahomes drove the Chiefs 75 yards in eight plays before connecting with Kelce and ending the Bills’ season in an instant classic. “We got tremendous leaders on both sides of the ball, whether it’s offense, defense or special teams,” said Hill, who caught 11 passes for 150 yards and a TD. “Nobody panicked. Nobody was like, ‘Oh, the game is over, there’s 13 seconds left.’ We just made plays.” Two months after the Chiefs advanced to the AFC Championship, league owners approved a rule change that guaranteed each team a possession during OT in the postseason. Mahomes burned Buffalo and made the NFL change its overtime rulesGetty Images - Getty 5. Chiefs 38, Bills 24 (2020 AFC Championship) Stats: 29-of-38, 325 yards, 3 TD, 127.6 It was over before the fourth quarter.
Patrick Mahomes has produced better playoff statistics than most NFL players achieve during their entire careers.
Already one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time, the former Texas Tech star answered back-to-back Super Bowl championships with a perfect 9-0 start in 2024.
After watching as a rookie backup as the Kansas City Chiefs fell 22-21 to Tennessee in a 2017 AFC wild card game, Mahomes has played in 18 playoff games.
He has a sparkling 15-3 postseason record, which includes a 3-1 mark in the Super Bowl and three big game MVPs.
Mahomes’ overall playoff numbers are equally impressive, highlighted by a 67.9 completion percentage, 5,315 passing yards and 41 touchdowns compared to just eight interceptions.
The Chiefs are Super Bowl contenders again in 2024 while fighting off the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions for the best record in the NFL.
Below talkSPORT ranks Mahomes’ greatest playoff games.
10. Chiefs 22, Browns 17 (2020 AFC Divisional Round)
Statistics: 21-of-30, 255 yards, TD, 106.9 rating
The Red Raider beat the Sooner.
Mahomes outperformed Baker Mayfield in a game where Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill both collected more than 100 receiving yards.
Mahomes was forced to leave the contest due to a consussion.
But he was highly efficient through two-plus quarters, then cheered on Chad Henne.
As the veteran backup pulled off a 13-yard scramble and fourth-down completion to Hill, Mahomes took pride in a true team win.
“#HenneThingIsPossible,” Mahomes tweeted.
9. Chiefs 27, Jaguars 20 (2022 AFC Divisional Round)
Stats: 22-of-30, 195 yards, 2 TD, 112.5 rating
In a tight game that saw Henne complete 5-of-7 passes for 23 yards and a TD for a sparkling 114.9 rating, Mahomes was even more efficient.
After an injured right ankle saw the rising star beg head coach Andy Reid to allow him to stay in the game, Mahomes underwent X-rays, then returned to guide Kansas City to a win-sealing 75-yard TD drive in the fourth quarter.
“I’m not coming out of a playoff game unless they take me out,” Mahomes said.
His legend was growing and he added another tough playoff W to his football legacy.
8. Patriots 37, Chiefs 31 in overtime (2018 AFC Championship)
Stats: 16-of-31, 295 yards, 3 TD, 117 rating
Tom Brady won.
But Mahomes was just getting started.
This is the only defeat on the list, but it also represented a changing of the guard in the NFL.
While Brady threw for 348 yards, he was also picked off twice.
Mahomes was brilliant, passing for 295 yards, three TDs, no picks and a 117 rating.
The Chiefs scored 31 second-half points in Mahomes’ first AFC Championship.
Four Super Bowls and three championship rings would soon follow.
“They had no quit. Neither did we,” Brady said. “We played our best football at the end.
“I don’t know, man, I’m tired. That was a hell of a game.”
7. Chiefs 35, Titans 24 (2019 AFC Championship)
Stats: 23-of-35, 294 yards, 3 TD, 120.4 rating
The best player on the field in the 2019 AFC Championship was soon a first-time Super Bowl winner.
Mahomes led Kansas City to 14 fourth-quarter points, while a 27-yard toe tap down the sideline propelled the Chiefs to their first big game since 1970.
“It’s amazing,” Mahomes said. “It really is.
“To be here, to be a part of Chiefs Kingdom and to be able to do it here at Arrowhead, these people deserve it. And we’re not done yet.”
Kansas City produced more than 400 yards of offense, collected 27 first downs, and was 6-of-10 on third down.
6. Chiefs 42, Bills 36 in OT (2021 Divisional Round)
Stats: 33-of-44, 378 yards, 3 TD, 123.1 rating
Mahomes was so good the NFL was forced to change its rules.
Buffalo led 36-33 with 13 seconds left in regulation inside a cold and stunned Arrowhead Stadium.
“When it’s grim, be the grim reaper,” Reid told Mahomes.
Mahomes drove the Chiefs 75 yards in eight plays before connecting with Kelce and ending the Bills’ season in an instant classic.
“We got tremendous leaders on both sides of the ball, whether it’s offense, defense or special teams,” said Hill, who caught 11 passes for 150 yards and a TD.
“Nobody panicked. Nobody was like, ‘Oh, the game is over, there’s 13 seconds left.’ We just made plays.”
Two months after the Chiefs advanced to the AFC Championship, league owners approved a rule change that guaranteed each team a possession during OT in the postseason.
5. Chiefs 38, Bills 24 (2020 AFC Championship)
Stats: 29-of-38, 325 yards, 3 TD, 127.6
It was over before the fourth quarter.
It’s also amazing how many 300 yard-plus playoff games Mahomes has.
He connected with Mecole Hardman and Kelce on TD passes, while outplaying Allen and ruining Buffalo’s dream of a Super Bowl.
Hill had 172 receiving yards for the Chiefs.
But Tom Brady and a dominant Tampa Bay defense were waiting in SB LV on the Buccaneers’ home field during the pandemic.
4. Chiefs 38, Eagles 35 (Super Bowl LVII)
Stats: 21-of-27, 182 yards, 3 TD, 131.8 rating
Jalen Hurts was supposed to be a world champion.
Mahomes’ magic got in the way.
Philly led 24-14 at halftime and was dominating.
Kansas City answered with 17 second-half points, including a game-winning 27-yard field goal by Harrison Butker with 8 seconds left.
“I thought guys just embraced the moment,” Mahomes said.
As the Chiefs followed their QB’s lead, Kansas City rallied around Big Red, who spent 14 years with the Eagles and barely lost Super Bowl XXXIX while coaching Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens.
“We wanted to get this so bad for him,” Kelce said. “His legacy in Philly lives on forever.
“There’s a lot of pride in knowing that he’s had success in two different organizations, but this was the better one.”
3. Chiefs 51, Texans 31 (2019 AFC Divisional Round)
Stats: 23-of-35, 321 yards, 5 TD, 134.6
Showtime Mahomes threw for five touchdowns, and that wasn’t even the biggest story.
Houston blowing a 24-0 lead at Arrowhead became part of Mahomes’ early legacy.
The Chiefs proceeded to outscore the Texans 51-7, becoming the first team in NFL history to win a postseason contest by at least 20 points after trailing by at least 20.
Mahomes was proving to the NFL he was the next great one.
“You saw him going up and down the bench, he was talking to everybody, ‘Just settle down,’ ” Reid said.
“As a head coach, you can’t ask for more than that. When he’s the leader of your team and he’s going, ‘Hey, we’re going to be fine. Let’s not wait for the fourth quarter. Let’s go!’
“And he did that.”
2. Chiefs 42, Steelers 21 (2021 AFC Wild Card)
Stats: 30-of-39, 404 yards, 5 TD, 138.2 rating
Mahomes was so good he made Ben Roethlisberger look outdated.
A quiet first quarter was followed by 21 points in the second period for the Chiefs and 21 more in the second half.
Mahomes played mad and ignited a furious Kansas City charge.
“We were all p***** at ourselves,” Mahomes said.
“We weren’t playing with enough energy. We weren’t playing at a high enough level.
“We all motivated ourselves. Everyone was talking to each other, and we came out with a different urgency.”
1. Chiefs 25, 49ers 22 (Super Bowl LVIII)
Stats: 34-of-46, 333 yards, 2 TD, 99.3 rating
Mahomes has had better statistical games in the playoffs, but nothing topped this all-time classic.
For the second consecutive Super Bowl, Kansas City trailed and was in danger of falling short.
Mahomes converted on fourth-and-1, then scrambled 19 yards to set up his championship-winning TD pass to Hardman with 3 seconds left in overtime.
He cemented a dynasty for the Chiefs during a year when Taylor Swift and Kelce became the hottest couple on the planet.
“I am going to celebrate tonight, celebrate at the parade and then work my way to get back in this game next year,” Mahomes said.
“I am going to do whatever I can to be back in this game next year. Three-peat.”
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