[ad_1]
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After final weekend’s playoff win in opposition to the Cleveland Browns, security Tyrann Mathieu stole a glance within the Kansas City Chiefs locker room at injured quarterback Patrick Mahomes. That fast peek instructed him Mahomes wouldn’t solely return to play in Sunday night time’s AFC Championship Sport in opposition to the Buffalo Bills, however he would play properly.
“He was within the locker room and he had that look in his eye like, ‘Do not forget about me,”’ Mathieu mentioned after Mahomes led the Chiefs to a 38-24 victory over Buffalo and a berth in Super Bowl LV in opposition to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “Simply watching him work all through the week, he was the identical previous Pat, the identical teammate, the identical chief, transferring round, making an attempt to increase performs.
“On prime of that, he is a gamer. It does not essentially matter the scenario or the circumstances. He tends to rise above all that.”
Mahomes, who was knocked out of final week’s divisional-round victory over the Browns with signs of a concussion, wasn’t cleared from the NFL’s protocol till Friday. He additionally was coping with a turf toe harm that restricted him in opposition to Cleveland.
Mahomes performed by all of it Sunday night time, going 29-of-38 passing for 325 yards and three touchdowns.
“From the warm-ups on,” Mahomes mentioned when requested when he first knew he would play properly. “We did an excellent job so far as rehabbing, getting myself able to go. I felt like I used to be myself on the market, and we have been capable of go on the market and rating factors in opposition to a extremely good soccer group.”
Mahomes was capable of follow all week and even took many of the snaps.
Patrick Mahomes expresses his ideas on going through Tom Brady within the Tremendous Bowl and the way he channeled “mamba mentality” in serving to the Chiefs attain this level.
“I do know he needed to undergo protocols and all that, however he by no means appeared like he wasn’t himself,” mentioned tight finish Travis Kelce, who caught two of Mahomes’ landing passes versus the Payments. “He by no means appeared like there was a doubt in his thoughts that he was going to play on this sport.
“He was on the market, dialed in, throwing the ball all around the subject and making the suitable selections. Positive sufficient, at present he performed his A-game and led us to the Tremendous Bowl.”
The Chiefs fell behind 9-0 early on Sunday however scored 21 straight factors to take a lead they by no means relinquished. The Chiefs have scored at the very least 21 consecutive factors in 4 of their previous 5 playoff video games, together with their Tremendous Bowl LIV victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
This comeback was among the many most spectacular. The Payments had gained eight straight video games, together with seven by at the very least 10 factors.
However Kansas Metropolis’s response included two of its longest performs of the season, one being a 71-yard move from Mahomes to Tyreek Hill.
Two key Chiefs gamers suffered accidents that might be an issue for them within the Tremendous Bowl, nonetheless. Left deal with Eric Fisher injured his Achilles tendon, and coach Andy Reid mentioned after the sport it didn’t look good. Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed additionally entered the concussion protocol.
[ad_2]
Source link