Patrick Mahomes takes the blame for Kansas City Chiefs' loss to Cincinnati Bengals
With five minutes left in the first half on Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs had a 21-3 lead over the Cincinnati Bengals. At that point, it looked like the Chiefs were on their way to a third straight Super Bowl appearance. The Bengals, however, mounted a furious comeback that culminated with a game-winning field goal […]
With five minutes left in the first half on Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs had a 21-3 lead over the Cincinnati Bengals.
At that point, it looked like the Chiefs were on their way to a third straight Super Bowl appearance.
The Bengals, however, mounted a furious comeback that culminated with a game-winning field goal in overtime, giving Cincinnati a 27-24 win and their first trip to the Super Bowl in 33 years.
After the game, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes put the loss on his shoulders. He acknowledged that Kansas City had an 18 point lead and he didn't do enough to maintain that lead.
“I gotta be better," said Mahomes. "We were up 21-3 at one point. I put that on me.”
The stats back up Mahomes' statement.
In the first half, we saw vintage Mahomes — he was 17-19 for 220 yards and three touchdowns. In the second half, Mahomes was 9-20 for 55 yards, 0 touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Just a mediocre second half from Mahomes probably gives the Chiefs the win.
Despite these stats, it's hard to blame Mahomes too much. Without him, this team isn't in the AFC Championship. Nor do they win the Super Bowl two years ago.
Mahomes will be better. He had a really bad second half. It happens to plenty of elite quarterbacks. It just happened at an inopportune time. That certainly wasn't the "real Mahomes" on Sunday evening that we saw.
I'm sure we'll see much of the real Mahomes in 2022.
Featured image via Albert Cesare / USA TODAY NETWORK
