KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes entered Arrowhead Stadium in style, wearing a puffy white coat, three shiny necklaces, black sunglasses, black pants, and bigger-than-usual black sneakers. And he walked without a noticeable limp, which was good news indicating his truncated rehab this week to ease the pain in his right ankle had been successful.
Mahomes knew his mobility would be tested by the Houston Texans on Saturday afternoon. The moment arrived early, too, with a third-and-13 snap on the eighth play of the Chiefs’ opening drive. Mahomes rolled to his right, surveyed the field for his receiving options, and made a decision: It was time to run. The crowd reacted with part surprise, part fear, and Mahomes gained 12 yards. Tackled out of bounds, he finished the play with a huge exhale. Coach Andy Reid, Mahomes’ teammates, and the crowd likely exhaled, too, when Mahomes stood up and requested the Chiefs offense stay on the field for fourth down. He successfully converted with a pass to keep the drive alive.
He capped off the possession with his best individual highlight from the Chiefs’ 27-19 victory. Once again, he scrambled out of the pocket, maintained his balance after getting tripped, and ran through two defenders for a stunning 15-yard touchdown. “It all opened up,” Mahomes remarked. “I knew I could run. It’s just the stopping that's going to be hard. Once I got running, I saw the end zone and just tried to get up in the air and get in. I just tried to play football.”
Playing through a high ankle sprain, Mahomes excelled, leading the Chiefs to yet another win. This victory marked the franchise’s 16th consecutive win in games decided by one score, setting the record for the longest streak in NFL history. Mahomes completed 28 of 41 attempts for 260 yards and one touchdown pass, propelling the Chiefs within one victory of claiming the No. 1 playoff seed in the AFC, which would secure them home-field advantage through the postseason.
Inside the Chiefs’ locker room, Mahomes’ performance surprised no one. Right guard Trey Smith praised him, stating, “He tries to lift the play around him in any way he can. He puts his body on the line. He’s the ultimate competitor. I’ve never been around a guy like him. I think it’s almost more demoralizing for the other team. They put a lot of credence on the ankle injury, and he just sort of laughed it off and ran it right through.”
Just six days prior, Mahomes had missed the final eight minutes of the Chiefs’ comfortable victory over the Cleveland Browns when he was hit hard and hobbled off the field. Immediately following the game, he headed to the Chiefs’ training facility for extensive treatment, staying for about 12 hours on Monday. This commitment signaled to the team his determination to be ready. During practice on Wednesday, Mahomes felt confident as he did not experience significant pain.
“If I’m going to ask them to play through pain,” Mahomes said, “if I’m going to play through little nicks and bruises, I’ve got to do it, as well. That’s something I pride myself on.” He emphasized the collective effort required, noting, “I’m not going to put us in a bad spot. But if I feel I can compete and win, I’m going to be out on the field.”
While Mahomes executed his plays effectively, the young Texans quarterback, C.J. Stroud, struggled. Stroud threw two interceptions, drastically impacting Houston's chances for success. Mahomes showcased his versatility, completing passes to eight teammates. His ability to exploit the Texans' man-to-man coverage was particularly noteworthy.
Although Mahomes had initially planned not to run, he found opportunities. “More than anything, once I did run, they put the spy (defender) there, which helps other guys get open,” he stated. The chemistry with his teammates, especially newly acquired receiver Marquise Brown, was another highlight. Brown, who suffered from injury earlier in the season, made his first reception of the year during this game, concluding with five catches for 45 yards. Brown explained, “I feel I can be an asset to the team. That’s all I’m trying to do.”
The Chiefs’ final touchdown, delivered by Mahomes to rookie receiver Xavier Worthy, came late in the third quarter and expanded the lead to 24-16. This score was the result of Mahomes and Worthy’s effective communication, with Worthy adjusting his route according to Mahomes’ read of the defense. “We originally called the play for man, but they ended up going zone,” Worthy noted. “I just tried to get a feel for what they were going to do.”
Mahomes demonstrated efficiency on quick passes, completing 17 of 19 attempts for 155 yards and another touchdown on releases under 2.5 seconds, as reported by Next Gen Stats. This aspect of performance highlighted his rapid decision-making ability. Despite some awkward moments, such as when he slid after achieving 8 yards, he left everything on the field.
When Mahomes departed Arrowhead Stadium with his family, he walked smoothly, showcasing the success of his recovery efforts and signaling to fans and teammates alike his commitment to the game of football.
