103 Seconds to Go. Is Patrick Mahomes the Quarterback? No Problem

by 24USATVNov. 23, 2020, 2 p.m. 57
-

In both those games, Mahomes spun victories from double-digit deficits, developing a reputation for comeback wizardry that only intensified at the Super Bowl, when he led three touchdown drives in the final 6:32. But Mahomes doesn’t lead many fourth-quarter comebacks — six across 46 N.F.L. games, counting the postseason — because rarely does his team trail that late.

The Chiefs trailed that late Sunday because Raiders quarterback Derek Carr did not just match Mahomes over the first 58 minutes or so — he outshined him. In one sense, the Raiders are the anti-Chiefs, an anachronism assembled to win with brute force: with fullbacks and blocking tight ends and by running with Josh Jacobs, who harnesses the power of a transformer, out of two-back sets. But they don’t have to.

The Raiders’ offensive personnel promote flexibility in a manner that feels vaguely aspirational, with Darren Waller blossoming into their version of Kelce. Carr didn’t surpass 165 passing yards in any of the Raiders’ previous three games, all victories, because Las Vegas bullied their opponents on the ground. On Sunday, he topped that number by halftime — 183 of his 275 total — and in the fourth quarter he whipped touchdowns to Waller and Jason Witten, whose 1-yarder off a Carr scramble put the Raiders up by 31-28 with 1:43 left.

Glancing at the clock, Carr thought they left too much time for Mahomes.

Later, Carr clarified that he would have said that about any quarterback in that situation. But few quarterbacks in the history of the sport have done what Mahomes has done, can do what Mahomes can do. At his current rate, Mahomes would throw for 4,856 yards this season with 43 touchdowns and just 3 interceptions; according to Pro Football Reference, no one has thrown for that many yards and that many touchdowns and so few interceptions.

Mahomes, the youngest player to win the Most Valuable Player Award and a Super Bowl, demolishes precedent. Never before had he thrown a go-ahead touchdown within the final two minutes. On the winning drive, he completed six of seven passes. On the winning play, he escaped the pocket and, surprised to see Kelce so open, zipped him the ball.

“I just tried to put it on him as quick as possible,” Mahomes said. “I knew that was the game-winner.”

Of course he did. In the 75 seconds it took for Kansas City to go 75 yards, so much could have gone wrong. Nothing consequential did. The most expected outcome prevailed. Give Patrick Mahomes a minute-and-a-half, and the Chiefs will roll.

-

Related Articles

HOT TRENDS

2024 Opening Day Chat

by 24USATVMarch 29, 2024, 6 a.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Tigers 1, White Sox 0: Crochet weaves, but Skubal shoves

by 24USATVMarch 29, 2024, 6 a.m.2
HOT TRENDS

Good Friday’s Answers to Wounded Church Members

by 24USATVMarch 29, 2024, midnight2
HOT TRENDS

Red Sox set Opening Day lineup for 2024 season

by 24USATVMarch 29, 2024, midnight2
HOT TRENDS

Sam Bankman-Fried’s Dream Came True

by 24USATVMarch 29, 2024, midnight2
HOT TRENDS

MLB Opening Day: Boston Red Sox against Seattle Mariners

by 24USATVMarch 28, 2024, 11 p.m.2