Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs relished ‘problem’ of highway win over Payments

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Patrick Mahomes had heard the discuss whether or not the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs may survive their first true highway playoff sport since he has been the beginning quarterback.

He and his teammates used it as gas through the week after which within the sport, a 27-24 divisional spherical win over the Buffalo Payments at Highmark Stadium. The victory sends the Chiefs to a different highway take a look at subsequent Sunday: the AFC Championship Sport towards the Ravens in Baltimore.

“Guys took it as a problem,” stated Mahomes, who threw simply 23 passes however for 215 yards and two touchdowns. “We simply got here in with the identical mindset, that we will come collectively, put our greatest foot ahead and see if we will come out with a win. And that takes the mentality all through the week, it takes each single play executing, and we did an important job of that at this time and had been in a position to rating sufficient to win.”

Mahomes stated he wasn’t dreading the prospect of enjoying his first highway playoff sport in raucous Buffalo; reasonably, he was trying ahead to it. Mahomes had performed as soon as in Buffalo however by no means noticed the place in all its glory. That sport was in 2020 and staged with out followers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I used to be very excited,” Mahomes stated. “It was going to be an important atmosphere being in right here in Buffalo. I might heard about it. Clearly, I performed right here however not with the followers. I knew the followers had been going to be rowdy, going to be hostile. However you admire the greatness of organizations and stepping into week in and week out and packing the stadium and being followers.

“I clearly love enjoying Arrowhead, however it’s cool to go on the highway for a playoff sport and have the ability to come out to win this one.”

The Chiefs have been an environment friendly highway group with Mahomes at quarterback, they usually had a greater report this season away from Arrowhead Stadium (8-2, counting the playoffs) than at residence (5-4).

“I feel it is that guys come collectively,” Mahomes stated. “I like being at Arrowhead and enjoying in entrance of that crowd. However whenever you’re on the highway, it is you versus them, it is you versus all people within the stadium, and you must come collectively as a group, and the fellows try this. You noticed that within the sport at this time.”

“By means of three quarters offensively, we had been transferring the ball up and down the sector,” he continued. “However we obtained shut down within the fourth quarter, and I went over to the protection and I instructed them, ‘Y’all shut it down and we’ll win this soccer sport. We’ll go to the AFC Championship Sport.’ And so they did.

“It was a group win, and that is what you want in playoffs.”

The Chiefs are headed to their sixth straight AFC Championship Sport, this time at Baltimore. The primary 5 had been held at Arrowhead Stadium.