As Travis Kelce was walking out of the locker room I told him he's a hell of a lead blocker (he led the way for Mahomes to score his second TD).
Kelce responded: "You know I'll do anything to help this team win. You know that."
Kelce was targeted just 4 times and had 2 catches for 19 yards.
Nate Burleson to NFL fans: "Resist the urge to fall for the narrative that we're tired of seeing [the Chiefs] win, that we might be fatigued of watching KC go to the Super Bowl... You are witnessing greatness. And just be happy that you are alive to be there to see it." 🏈🎙️
Patrick Mahomes NFL career as a starter:
Year 1: AFC Championship.
Year 2: Super Bowl (win)
Year 3: Super Bowl
Year 4: AFC Championship.
Year 5: Super Bowl (win)
Year 6: Super Bowl (win)
Year 7: Super Bowl (TBD)
Greatness.
That's over a 99th percentile game for Patrick Mahomes in terms of dropback success rate.
There were only four games this entire season where a QB produced a successful play at a higher rate.
It's the highest dropback success rate of Mahomes' entire career!
Timeline of folks the loudest & wrongest about the Chiefs:
Heading into ‘22: “Let’s see how Mahomes looks without Tyreek!”
(Mahomes wins MVP, KC leads league in points)
Heading into ‘22 playoffs: “BURROWHEAD/Eagles will beat them!”
(KC beats CIN & wins SB)
During ‘23 season: “Worst Mahomes team ever. Let’s see them win on the road! This is Josh or Lamar’s year!”
(KC beats BUF & BAL on the road, wins SB)
During ‘24 season: “Actually THIS is the worst Mahomes team ever! No chance this luck keeps up!”
(KC has best record in NFL literally wire to wire)
During ‘24 playoffs: “IT’S RIGGED!!!!!!”
"This is the worst we are going to play all year, so if this is the best that they got, good luck in the postseason."
— #Ravens TE Isiah Likely after loss to KC in week one
"This is the worst we are going to play all year, so if this is the best that they got, good luck in the postseason."
— #Ravens TE Isiah Likely after loss to KC in week one
Bill feeds into absurdity around penalties by claiming one was Mahomes’ best play. Not:
- Falling TD pass
- Pass to Kelce led to ~50 yards
- Pass to Worthy while being pulled back by defender.
Great ex of smart people falling into same bad arguments when we *want* to be right.
Lamar did make two mistakes. That's different than the player he was during the regular season. Can't argue that.
But Mahomes threw for 177 yards and seven first downs in this game! Their best offensive play was the personal foul penalty! And they did that at home, with three weeks off, when you and I and everyone else was expecting to see *Playoff* *Mahomes*.
No question that Lamar was disappointing in the first half. But the second half also happened, and Lamar went 12-of-15 for 131 and a TD and the Ravens went FG, TD, fumble (by Andrews), TD against a great defense on the road!
If the goal is make the fewest mistakes, Mahomes was better. If the goal is to do the most on offense to help your team win, even given the mistakes, Lamar was better this weekend.
So much of the #Chiefs’ success traces back to brilliant roster building — and the 2022 NFL Draft was a masterpiece. GM Brett Veach and his staff crushed it, grabbing Trent McDuffie at No. 21 and George Karlaftis at No. 30. A lockdown CB1 and a relentless pass-rusher, both late in the first round. Home runs.
They’re cornerstone stars in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, proving once again why this front office is among the NFL’s best.