Zeal Talk Report with JGILLZ: Patrick Mahomes Makes History After Back to Back Super Bowls

Written by Jalen McGill

The Kansas City Chiefs became the first team in twenty years to win back to back Super Bowls. This level of success hadn’t been achieved since Tom Brady and the New England Patriots did it in 2003 and 2004.

What makes this run so special is the amount of firsts that Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs had to deal with. This was the first time Patrick Mahomes didn’t have a thousand yard pass catcher. His most yardage receiver was Rashee Rice who accumulated 938 yards over the season. Mahomes security blanket Travis Kelce also dipped in production, and failed to surpass a thousand yards. Kelce gobbled up 984 yards through the season, a precipitous drop from his 1338 he notched last season. Aside from the lack of production from his skills positions, the Chiefs also led the league in dropped passes. This is one reason that makes this run so much more special.

NFL: Super Bowl LVIII-San Francisco 49ers at Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates after defeating the San Francisco 49ers in overtime of Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Another first was the travel the Chiefs had to endure in the playoffs. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs owned the AFC over the last five years, hosting each of the last five AFC Conference games. This year, they ranked as the third seed in the AFC and had to endure a gauntlet of a playoff schedule. This started with a home game against the sixth seed Miami Dolphins, who for most of the season led the NFL in offense. The game was played in frigid below zero temperatures with wind chills reaching negative twenty degrees. This would pose a challenge due to the issues of the dropped passes the team faced all season, but they would overcome that obstacle.

The rest of the playoffs is where the challenges really began to start. Mahomes would then have to go on the road against the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens. This would be the first time in Mahomes career he would have to play road playoff games. Road games alone can be costly in the playoffs, but add in the fact he had to play against Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson! These two quarterbacks were the only two quarterbacks to receive first place votes for league MVP, with the later winner the league’s highest honor. Mahomes would go on to defeat both Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson in their respective stadiums.

Adversity would continue for Mahomes and the Chiefs after having to now face the odds on favorite and NFC number one seed San Francisco 49ers. Las Vegas had the Chiefs as a three point underdog. They eventually would go on to beat the San Francisco 49ers in overtime and become back to back Super Bowl Champions. What stood out to me is what Mahomes had to say about dealing with this adversity. Mahomes was quoted after the Super Bowl saying, “It means a ton. Just the adversity we dealt with this year and to come through. The guys never faltered. I give God the glory. He challenged us to make us better. I am proud of my guys.”

Even after this level of adversity, Mahomes and the Chiefs were still able to achieve the greatest of heights. Mahomes and the Chiefs will look to be the first team in NFL history to three peat, which would undoubtedly put him in a different stratosphere.

Written by Jalen McGill

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