Patrick Mahomes is the NFL’s standard-bearer at quarterback. The 28-year-old has been selected to six consecutive Pro Bowls and has won two MVP awards under center for the Kansas City Chiefs — not to mention two Super Bowls in only six full seasons as the starter.
Mahomes is well on course to challenge the legendary Tom Brady’s mark of seven Super Bowls won. In fact, the former Patriots and Buccaneers quarterback is the only other signal-caller besides Mahomes to reach 12 postseason wins before turning 30 years old.
Mahomes entered rarefied air on Saturday as he led the Chiefs to a 26-7 win over the Miami Dolphins in Kansas City’s playoff opener. The victory was Mahomes’ 12th in the playoffs since he debuted in a divisional contest against the Indianapolis Colts on Jan. 12, 2019.
Mahomes and Brady met the next week at Arrowhead Stadium — the first of two playoff meetings between the star quarterbacks. New England withstood a furious rally from Kansas City to win an overtime classic, 37-31 — and Brady would earn his sixth championship ring two weeks later after winning Super Bowl LIII.
Brady ended his career as the winningest playoff quarterback of all time — his 35 postseason wins tower above any other quarterback in NFL history. However, with five more playoff wins, Mahomes will move into second all-time in the category and increase his chances of catching Brady at some point in the next decade.
The Bills have opened as slight favorites, but the stage is set for Mahomes to do what Brady did time and time again during his lengthy career — raise the level of his team, even if it isn’t at its best, and lead it to victory. In this case, it would be Mahomes’ sixth consecutive trip to the AFC Championship Game.
