The latest
Five quirky stats about Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs | Kansas City Star
4. THIRTYSOMETHING
In the 27 postseason games the Chiefs played before the Mahomes Era, they scored 30 or more points four times.
In the five playoff games Mahomes has started, the Chiefs have scored 31 or more points each time.
In fact, five of the six highest-scoring Chiefs playoff games have been with Mahomes starting. The lone exception was the 44 points the Chiefs scored in a loss to the Colts in 2014.
The Chiefs have averaged 35.6 points per game in those playoff contests with Mahomes starting.
NFL Power Rankings, Divisional Round: Browns rise after biggest win since franchise reboot | NFL.com
1 - Kansas City Chiefs
14-2
Previous rank: No. 1
By the time Patrick Mahomes takes the field for Sunday’s divisional round matchup against the Browns, the reigning Super Bowl MVP will have gone 20 days between live snaps in game action. That’s quite the break, but we have evidence that Mahomes won’t go full Big Ben when the Chiefs get back to work. Last season, Mahomes missed two weeks with a knee injury, only to return and throw for 446 yards and three touchdowns in a last-minute loss at Tennessee. Mahomes is, well, different. The Chiefs are in very good hands this weekend ... and for the next 12 to 15 years beyond that.
The names of the plays reflect their fun nature and give the players some ownership in the offense.
“[Mahomes has] had ideas, we’ve used other players’ ideas, and I’m free game,” Reid said. “If you’ve got a good one, let’s go. If you’ve got one, bring it on. We’ll take it. I’m easy that way. If they look good, we’ll try it on and see how it works, but I think it’s healthy. I think it’s healthy for guys. They’re thinking football, which is important, and you hope that your guys are in the frame of mind to do that.
“It keeps the guys alive. It keeps everybody involved. They get into those. This is a serious business. They’re grinding away and there’s a lot of hours put in, so you give the guys a little something. You want it to be a good play. We’re not making a mockery of the thing. We’re trying to make it where it’s another opportunity to score a touchdown.”
The NFL’s top contenders for the Super Bowl, ranked | SB Nation
1. Kansas City Chiefs
What more is there to say about the Kansas City Chiefs? Quarterback Patrick Mahomes leads a perpetually dangerous and explosive offense back into the postseason as the frontrunners to win it all and defend their championship crown.
The Chiefs are coming off of a 14-2 regular season with one of those losses coming with an asterisk next to it seeing as it came in a Week 17 game where Mahomes and several star players sat out to rest up for the playoffs. The loss to the Los Angeles Chargers snapped a 10-game winning streak, but this is still one of the league’s hottest teams entering the Divisional Round.
If there are any concerns about the Chiefs, it might be that they coasted through portions of the regular season and could get bitten by thinking they could turn it on or off at any given time. Still, this team is loaded and ready for another run at the Lombardi Trophy. It would be an absolute shock if Kansas City struggles with the Browns in their playoff opener. The AFC still goes through KC.
For the first time ever, one conference (the AFC) will have four teams quarterbacked by players 25 years old or younger. They are Patrick Mahomes (25) of the Kansas City Chiefs, Baker Mayfield (25) of the Cleveland Browns, Lamar Jackson (24) of the Baltimore Ravens, and Josh Allen (24) of the Buffalo Bills.
That is an amazing example of how well so many teams in the AFC are set up for the future — and means that none of them are going to go away anytime soon.
1. Eric Bieniemy
Current role: Offensive coordinator — Kansas City Chiefs
The Eagles have dug into the Andy Reid coaching tree once before with Pederson — and won their first Super Bowl in franchise history. Reid was the most successful head coach in franchise history, making five NFC Championship Game appearances in eight seasons and compiling a .583 win percentage in 14 seasons as the Eagles head coach. Reid disciples have succeeded in the NFL and changed franchises (see John Harbaugh with the Baltimore Ravens and Sean McDermott with the Buffalo Bills).
Bieniemy may be the best assistant coach Reid has ever had as the offensive coordinator of one of the greatest offenses in NFL history. The Chiefs offense was first in total yards per game (415.8) this season under Bieniemy (sixth in 2019, first in 2018) and has led the NFL with 406.9 yards per game over the past three seasons. Patrick Mahomes won a league MVP and Super Bowl MVP with Bieniemy as his offensive coordinator — throwing for 13,868 yards for 114 touchdowns to just 23 interceptions (109.8 passer rating).
If the Eagles seek Bieniemy, he could either work with reinventing Wentz or develop Hurts. Bieniemy played for the Eagles as a running back in 1999 (under Reid) and has been on Reid’s staff in Kansas City since 2013. There’s familiarity with Philadelphia’s front office and ownership, which could get Bieniemy to Eagles.
Jaelan Phillips DL
Kansas City
Phillips, who shined at the U this season, has the potential to be special. There may be medical concerns but if he gets the all-clear, he’s a first-round talent, and in KC he’ll give the Chiefs defense a much-needed boost off the edge.
NFL playoffs: Which fan base most deserves to win a Super Bowl? | NFL.com
8 - Kansas City Chiefs
AFC No. 1 seed · 14-2-0
Super Bowl appearances: 3
Super Bowl wins: 2
Good-Story Meter (1-100): 44.2
I did not publish this list a year ago, but if I had, Chiefs fans would have topped it — they richly deserved their eventual reward. Kansas City is easy on the eyes and armed with a superhuman under center in Patrick Mahomes. Andy Reid is the masterful coach who waited 21 years to win it all. After decades of teasing and torment, Chiefs fans now stare at a dynasty in formation. Kansas City is a favorite to repeat, but last year’s glory pushes this group to the back of the bus.
Around the NFL
Tuesday’s NFL injury and roster news ahead of Divisional Round | NFL.com
The Bills are signing Freeman to their practice squad following a season-ending injury to rookie runner Zack Moss, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per Freeman’s agent Drew Rosenhaus.
Freeman joined the Giants in a somewhat similar situation early in the 2020 campaign, signing with New York to help replace Saquon Barkley after his season ended due to injury. Freeman rushed 54 times for 172 yards (3.2 yards per carry) and one touchdown in five games with the Giants, who waived him last week in order for Freeman to seek opportunities such as this.
Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano retiring | NFL.com
Pagano, 60, is retiring, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Tuesday.
The head coach of the Indianapolis Colts for six seasons, Pagano returned to the sidelines as defensive coordinator for the Bears ahead of the 2019 season to replace Vic Fangio.
In his two autumns in Chicago, Pagano led a defense that allowed 20.9 points per game under his umbrella, which was sixth in the NFL in that time.
The Raiders hired Gus Bradley as their new DC
The fact that the @Raiders managed to spend time photoshopping a Raiders hat onto Ken Whisenhunt instead of the actual man they hired in Gus Bradley is an incredible feat of PR ineptitude.
— Andy Holloway (@andyholloway) January 12, 2021
"We're not exactly sure who we hired...but they're going to be GREAT" pic.twitter.com/HOD2FUnpH9
Las Vegas Raiders RB Josh Jacobs won’t face DUI charges | ESPN
“After an extensive review of the evidence, the Clark County District Attorney’s office filed a complaint this morning only charging Josh with failure to exercise due care,” read the statement by David Z. Chesnoff and Richard A. Schonfeld.
“The police investigation in the Josh Jacobs’ case revealed that Mr. Jacobs’ blood alcohol level was below the legal limit and therefore DUI charges are not being filed against him.” Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said in a statement. “However, based on Mr. Jacobs’ driving behavior, my office has filed a Criminal Complaint for one misdemeanor count of Duty of Driver to Decrease Speed Under Certain Circumstances.”
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Patrick Mahomes is highly complimentary of Kareem Hunt, Browns as Divisional week begins
Mayfield bested Mahomes in 2016, as Oklahoma beat Texas Tech 66-59, in which the two quarterbacks combined for 12 touchdowns and more than 1,250 passing yards. It was a lower-scoring affair when the two met as pros in 2018; the Chiefs beat the Browns, 37-21.
Hunt had three total touchdowns for the Chiefs in that one.
“That’s my dude,” Mahomes said of Hunt. “I came in with Kareem and obviously we’re not together anymore but still stay in touch. He’s a heck of a football player and someone that was one of my best friends when we first got on the team together.”
Mahomes and Hunt were both members of the Chiefs’ 2017 NFL Draft class and were teammates until Hunt’s release midway through the 2018 season. Mahomes said he reached out to Hunt after the Browns won their Wild Card game over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night.
“I actually texted him [Sunday] night,” Mahomes said. “He has a lot of success on that field every opportunity he gets. He’s a great football player and someone that I know who will keep getting better and better as his career goes on.”
A tweet to make you think
PFF Grade since Week 9:
— PFF (@PFF) January 12, 2021
Baker Mayfield - 90.5
Patrick Mahomes - 88.5 pic.twitter.com/5i9WtpVaiO
Follow Arrowhead Pride on Social Media
- Facebook Page: Click here to like our page
- AP Instagram: Follow @ArrowheadPride
- AP Twitter: Follow @ArrowheadPride
- AP Staff on Twitter: see complete list
- 610 Sports Twitter: Follow @610SportsKC