Patrick Mahomes’ playoff legacy gets tarnished by absurd officiating against Texans – “Easy when you cheat”

Patrick Mahomes guided the Kansas City Chiefs to their seventh consecutive AFC title game with a win over the Texans.

Patrick Mahomes’ playoff legacy gets tarnished by absurd officiating against Texans – “Easy when you cheat”

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (Image via IMAGO)

No matter how much Patrick Mahomes struggled during the regular season, in the playoffs he is a different beast altogether. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback took down the Houston Texans and advanced to his seventh consecutive AFC title game.

Analysts feared rust might set in the Chiefs’ cogs due to the bye week they enjoyed by bagging the top seed in the AFC. Star players Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Chris Jones enjoyed two weeks without football as head coach Andy Reid opted to give them extended rest.

YouTube video

However, they never fail to flip the switch during the postseason games, and the Texans witnessed it firsthand. Although there were a few questionable calls along the way, the Chiefs more or less kept pace with the Texans.

FS Video

The team from Houston had six minutes of additional possession, four extra first downs (18 to Chiefs 14), and 336 total yards compared to the Chiefs 212. Despite the possession, DeMeco Ryans’ Texans failed to make much use of it. They became the first team to lead by 100 yards in a playoff game and still lose (the record in such games is 49-1).

RELATED
NFL Divisional Round: Where and how to watch Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills, live stream, and broadcast details
NFL Divisional Round Where and how to watch Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills, live stream, and broadcast details

Mahomes’ record in the divisional round is impeccable. He has won all seven games, completing 2013 yards, 17 touchdowns, zero turnovers, and lodged a passer rating of 113.9 as per ESPN data.

Social media reactions to Patrick Mahomes securing his 16th playoff win

Mahomes began the game gingerly, but grew into it as time passed on. He set up running back Kareem Hunt for a one-yard touchdown in the second quarter and then threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce while diving forward in the fourth quarter to seal the game for the Chiefs.

Patrick Mahomes' playoff legacy gets tarnished by absurd officiating against Texans - "Easy when you cheat"
Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce while playing against the Texans (Image via IMAGO)

Patrick Mahomes ended the game with 16 completions from 25 tries for 177 yards, along with 7 carries for 14 yards and 2 overall touchdowns. The 3x Super Bowl MVP said before the tie that he was ready to be the villain.

I just like winning. If you win a lot and that causes you to be a villain, then I’m okay with it. But at the end of the day, I’m gonna enjoy playing the game and try to win as much as possible.

Patrick Mahomes said

Rival fans aren’t too fond of this villain avatar of Mahomes which never seems to lose in the playoffs, unless it’s the Cincinnati Bengals.

The 14-23 victory over the Texans locked Mahomes’ 16th playoff win (excluding the Super Bowl). Mahomes had 382 completions from 581 tries for 3982 yards, 28 overall touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.

RELATED
Roger Goodell feels 18-game NFL regular reason in near future is “logical” step
Roger Goodell

The Chiefs will now face the winners of the second AFC divisional game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game next week.

Related: Former Eagles RB highlights Saquon Barkley’s surprising weakness