Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid stressed that the team is not upset with Patrick Mahomes after team’s AFC Championship Game loss.
The Kansas City Chiefs looked like they were about to clinch a Super Bowl berth for the third-consecutive year. Yet, an epic second-half collapse allowed the Cincinnati Bengals to defeat them 27-24 in overtime to win the AFC Championship for the first time in 33 years. Credit can be given to Cincinnati’s defense for pressuring Patrick Mahomes into making some costly mistakes, specifically in the second act and overtime.
On the day after their loss, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke on Mahomes’ performance and stressed that the team is not upset with him for the loss.
“I think he was one half away from going to his third Super Bowl in a row, and that’s pretty impressive,” Reid said, via NFL.com’s Nick Shook. “You’ve been around this a long time as a lot of us have, and that’s pretty impressive. Most of these teams that are getting this far have good quarterbacks, that’s just how it works. We’re fortunate to have him. There’s nobody looking at Pat Mahomes cross-eyed from our side and I would anticipate our fans feel the same way.”
Andy Reid says Chiefs not looking at Patrick Mahomes any differently after AFC Championship Game loss
Reid is not lying. Kansas City was one half away from competing for the Lombardi Trophy at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. Yet, it did not pan out due to the performance of the Bengals.
After the Bengals cut their deficit to 21-13, Mahomes threw a pass that was tipped up in the air and intercepted by defensive lineman B.J. Hill. Five plays later, quarterback Joe Burrow connected with wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
Mahomes did have the chance to win the game, but he was stuffed when reaching the red zone, forcing the Chiefs to settle for a game-tying field goal to send the game into overtime. Even though Kansas City won the coin toss, Mahomes’ pass intended for Tyreek Hill was intercepted by safety Vonn Bell. After that, Evan McPherson nailed the game-winning field goal to send the Bengals to Super Bowl LVI.
In the second half and overtime, Mahomes completed 8-of-18 pass attempts for 55 yards and two interceptions. That was after throwing for 221 yards and three touchdowns (18-of-21) in the first half.
The season did not end the way the Chiefs had planned, but they will look to reach the Super Bowl next year.