Patrick Mahomes II led the Kansas City Chiefs to the Super Bowl on one good ankle and survived with extraordinary pain tolerance and grit and guts. He passed the Burrows and the fearless Cincinnati Bengals, skips, skips, limps and knocks. On the final drive, Mahomes made a daring dash for a first down marker, at which point Bengals defensive end Joseph Osai’s squeaky shove set up a 45-yard touchdown pass to Harrison Butker.
The Chiefs’ 23-20 win propelled Mahomes to his third Super Bowl in five seasons as an NFL rookie and provided another career milestone for the quarterback, who at age 27 is already legendary. After a week of rehabbing the quarterback from an injury that could sideline many players, Mahomes passed for 326 yards and two touchdowns in the final 27 seconds of the game. The Chiefs reached another Super Bowl behind memorable performances by Chris Jones’ defensive formation. They won mainly because of Mahomes’ unparalleled talent and insatiable desire.
“It was hurting really bad,” Mahomes Sr. said. “I’ve been texting him all week. He’s saying, ‘Dad, I’m making progress, but I’m still hurting.’ I knew he was going to pull his guts out. I saw him do it in college. I’ve seen him do it before. So I knew it was going to be okay.”
All week, Mahomes needs constant care. After applying ice, heat, tape and braces to his badly sprained right ankle a week ago, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Arden Key fell on his leg and bent it at a horrible angle. Lacking speed, he mostly stayed in the pocket, much like Michael Jordan stayed on the floor in his prime. No one in the Chiefs organization doubted he would play, but only because he was Patrick Mahomes.
“He was hurt more today than I think he’s ever been out there,” general manager Brett Veach said. “He had a high ankle [sprain]. Those are very painful. Some guys miss two, three weeks. But it doesn’t surprise me that he can step up and make plays when we need him.
Mahomes’ playmaking ability began with his extraordinary healing ability. In the year In 2019, he sprained his left ankle in Week 1 and returned the following week. He tore his kneecap that season and wanted to come back right away; He only missed a few games due to a season-threatening injury.
“His mother has some different genes,” Mahomes Sr., a retired MLB relief pitcher, said. “She’s double-crossed and all that. He gets that from his mother. His athleticism comes from me. That part came from his mother.
“It’s just in his wiring,” Veach said. “Since childhood, he has always been the ultimate competitor, this desire to win was instilled in him at an early age.”
Mahomes’ attendance was initiated by principal assistant athletic trainer Julie Freemier. She planned his rehabilitation and met him at the princes’ institute. She focuses on increasing range of motion and lateral movement by using resistance bands to stretch and strengthen the muscles, tendons, and ligaments around the ankle.
“Julie was the reason I was the person I was on the field today!” Mahomes tweeted after the game. “It takes everyone, but she’s been leading the charge all week!”
“They lived in the training room,” coach Andy Reid said. Even at home, he used constant snow and heat. He asked his wife, Brittany, to join him as he nursed his ankle so he could see the kids sometimes.
By the end of Thursday’s practice, the Chiefs’ most intense session of the week, Mahomes decided the tape on his ankle was too restrictive. “He felt pretty ginger,” backup Quad Hen said. Once he picked up the tape, he was like, ‘Oh, I feel free.'” But since Mahomes needs tape to support his ankle, trainers have adjusted how they apply it.
Even as he recovers, Mahomes refuses to rush into practice. The Chiefs did not include him on their official injury report because he was fully involved.
“There was no doubt in my mind,” Travis Kelce said. “I know for a fact that he gives everything he has every day to this city and this organization and all the guys he goes to.”
Mahomes knew his ankle would force concussions. When it passes, it is strongly supported on the strength of the arm. “The back foot, that’s all your power. Mahomes knew he was throwing quicker passes and checks than usual. “Just hit the first open guy, and don’t take any unnecessary plays,” Hayne, a veteran who relieved Mahomes last week against Jacksonville, told the young quarterback. Typically an escape artist in shoulder coverage, Mahomes is determined in the pocket.
“I didn’t have the burst that I usually have,” Mahomes said.
Mahomes led the Chiefs to a 13-10 halftime lead, leading the way in small spots. The Bengals were prepared to get Mahomes at full strength, but when they realized Mahomes would be trapped in the pocket, they adjusted their strategy. No defenders noticed Mahomes’ scrimmage. On the rare plays he struggled to hit in the pocket, his lack of speed kept him from making big gains. Mahomes had only rushed twice for three yards before his final scrimmage.
On the Chiefs’ second possession of the second half, Mahomes rolled to his left to escape a blitz from linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither. McCall saw Hardman open in the middle, which forced him to plant his right foot, twist his upper body and sling a pass. He knew that stopping would be the most painful thing to do, and when he delayed, he acted awkwardly. He returned to his embrace, his gait affected for the night.
“They found me. [as] They’re as close to 100 percent as they can be,” Mahomes said. “And then I fought back.”
The worst pain Mahomes felt all game came after the ball bounced out of his hands while attempting a quick pass. Unable to defend his ankle, he dove into the pile of bodies. The Bengals emerged with football. Mahomes left the field. As the game progressed, he appeared to be thinking about his ankle position at every step.
“I was definitely hotter than usual today,” Heine said. “I always try to keep my legs loose, just in case. You can only be one hit or one bad fall.”
Mahomes worked with a reduced receiver corps. Kelce injured his back in Friday’s practice and was ruled out on Sunday. Mahomes’ top wide receivers Juju Smith-Schuster and Kadarius Toney are out with injuries. On the Chiefs’ perfect drive, Mahomes lofted a pass over his body to the left to Marcus Kemp — a wide receiver who has four touchdown passes in his five-year career and is absent this season. Mahomes felt comfortable with Kemp as a starter in 2017, and he threw him on the Chiefs’ scout team.
The Chiefs’ defensive line stuffed the Burrow in the final minute of the fourth quarter to stop Cincinnati’s final drive. With the score tied at 20, rookie Sky Moore returned Drew Chrisman’s sick line drive 29 yards to the Kansas City 47-yard line. Mahomes entered the field with 30 seconds left.
Butker has one of the strongest legs in the NFL, routinely blasting field goals from around 70 yards. Circumstances have deprived him of his range. The wind chill was close to 0 degrees by the end of the game, and the cold air froze the balls inside and outside. During warmups, Booker came up short on a 55-yard attempt. He told coaches he had a 53-yard limit and wasn’t sure he could do it. To give Booker a real chance, the Chiefs must advance at least 20 yards to the Bengals’ 33-yard line.
The drive began with Mahomes’ pass to Isiah Pacheco, who failed to get out of bounds after a six-yard gain. The Chiefs burned through their final moments. An incomplete pass left them on third-and-four with 17 seconds left.
Mahomes picked up the shotgun and drove down to his own 41. Mahomes stepped into the pocket as Bengals defensive tackle BJ Hill shut down. He saw no open receiver and swung right, past defensive end Sam Hubbard. Open space is opened to the side. If he runs, he must reach both Cincinnati’s 43-yard line and the sideline to protect the drive. He ran fast.
“It’s all heart,” Heine said. “He knew we needed to make a play there and get within a field goal. It’s just heart and determination.
As Mahomes approached the sideline, Hubbard couldn’t reach him and dove behind him. Mahomes passed the marker.
“Players make plays. We’ve got a family motto. And he made plays,” Mahomes Sr. said.
After Mahomes took two steps out of bounds, Osai pushed him to the ground. An official threw a flag as Mahomes slid onto the yellow grass near the Bengals’ bench. 15 more yards gave the leaders the ball at the 27.
“In the last game, you saw it all come together, man,” Kelce said. “It’s moments like this that make being his teammate even more special.
Booker enters the field. He swung his leg and snapped a kick that would have traveled about 65 yards on a normal day. Catcher Tommy Townsend immediately embraced him, but Booker asked for confirmation. The ball floated over the crossbar. Mahomes realized it was three seconds and signaled to his cheering friends on the sidelines. After the Bengals’ desperate punt returns went nowhere, the Chiefs made it back to the Super Bowl.
Mahomes arrives in Arizona to face the Philadelphia Eagles with a new look. At age 24, he won MVP as the Chiefs captured their first Super Bowl in 50 years. After that, he collected the scars of the competition. He suffered a blowout loss in the next Super Bowl, and the Chiefs blew a 21-3 lead to the Bengals in last year’s AFC Championship.
“When I got into the league, everything happened so fast,” Mahomes said. “I won the MVP, I won the Super Bowl, and I thought that was it. Now that I’ve been through failure, I know how much hard work and daily grind it takes. And I’m happy to get to that game with the teammates I have.
Mahomes stepped onto the podium at center field surrounded by teammates and Chiefs officials. After the televised ceremony, he knocked on the side rail, waving to his family below. Britney and Mahomes’ brother, Jackson, promoted the quarterback’s son, Sterling, to him.
Moments later, Mahomes grabbed the side rails with both hands as he descended the stairs, a final reminder of what it took to get there. For the moment, he clutches Lamar Hunt’s trophy in his left hand and puts his right arm around Britney as she holds Sterling. They took a picture, the last picture of the night, again, shows how Patrick Mahomes stands out from the rest.