Patrick Mahomes and the art of reinvention: Why the Chiefs still reign in the AFC

AFC West - English David Schiavone - SAM English Kansas City Chiefs - English NFL - English Patrick Mahomes - English Sports

add

As the 2025 NFL season approaches, speculation around the Kansas City Chiefs continues to swirl.

Despite winning a Super Bowl last season, many observers still question whether Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs can repeat their dominance in a league that only grows tougher each year.

But if history, and Mahomes‘ track record are any indication, underestimating Kansas City remains a risky proposition.

The Chiefs may be facing the toughest schedule of the Mahomes era, but head coach Andy Reid isn’t losing sleep. Why? Because Kansas City’s offensive engine remains the same, and he knows how rare that is.

“You’re going to do something like this, which is like, he’s in the moment, or he’s just so focused on what’s going on, it doesn’t kick in sometimes,” Reid said about Mahomes‘ now-routine spectacular plays.

“I tell the coaches this all the time: You never, never take that for granted. So, appreciate every one of those throws he makes, because you don’t get that very often in a career, and as a coach. Absolutely, there are times I go, ‘Whoa, that was pretty good right there.'”

The legacy that defies the odds

Mahomes’ postseason record is nearly unmatched in today’s NFL. He holds a 17-4 playoff mark, including a perfect 5-0 against fellow AFC stars Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.

His only losses in the postseason have come at the hands of elite quarterbacks-Joe Burrow, Tom Brady (twice), and Jalen Hurts. These aren’t flukes, they’re reminders that Kansas City competes at the highest level, year after year.

“Every single year we come up here and we say, ‘Man, this is the most vulnerable the Kansas City Chiefs have ever been,'” said former NFL wide receiver Harry Douglas on ESPN’s First Take.

“And then every single year they end up in the Super Bowl. So, I don’t care how hard the AFC as a conference is. See, when things happen over and over again, especially like they do for the Kansas City Chiefs, it’s not by mistake.”

Despite that consistency, Mahomes has shown he’s not immune to struggles. Since becoming a starter in 2018, he’s thrown interceptions on just 1.8% of his passes, seventh-best among active quarterbacks.

Still, quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers (1.1%) and Justin Herbert (1.5%) have posted slightly better numbers. The Chiefs‘ offensive drop-off last season, finishing just 15th in scoring and 16th in total offense, only added fuel to critics’ fire.

Yet Mahomes‘ greatness shines under pressure and with time. According to ESPN’s Kevin Clark, Mahomes is elite under very specific conditions: “Last year, Mahomes was at his best, truly, when he was either getting rid of the ball really quickly or he’s holding onto the ball and making magic happen,” Clark said.

“His first two years as a starter, he was by far the best quarterback in the NFL when he held onto the ball for 2.5 seconds.”

Back then, the combination of Travis Kelce‘s zone awareness and Tyreek Hill’s explosive speed made Mahomes nearly unstoppable. Without Hill, that margin has tightened.

Clark noted: “He wasn’t even in the top 20 last year when he held onto the ball for 2.5 seconds. He’s not creating that level of magic right now. Do I believe he will again? Of course, he will.”

Mahomes’ ability to adjust, to develop new chemistry, and to innovate in real-time is what separates him from even the best. The Chiefs don’t win simply because of talent-they win because of adaptability, leadership, and the rare ability of their quarterback to thrive in chaos.

As the AFC grows more competitive, one thing remains constant: Patrick Mahomes is still the one every team is chasing.

This news was originally published on this post .