Down 14-0 at halftime of the AFC Championship, Patrick Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs in a spirited comeback effort against the New England Patriots that culminated in a tying field goal with seconds left to force overtime. They gave themselves a chance.
However, the Patriots won the coin flip for possession in overtime, and as he tends to do, Tom Brady sensed a chance for greatness. After an assertive drive down the field, the Pats scored a touchdown on the first possession of overtime and earned their berth to the Super Bowl.
It’s always impressive to see Brady go to work, but unfortunately, the quick touchdown meant that Mahomes never got a chance to take the field after leading the OT effort. His defense allowed a sudden-death touchdown in accordance to the NFL’s rules, and that was that for the young MVP candidate (and potential $200 million man).
Many viewers, whether fans of the Chiefs or just neutrals in it for a good finish, excited their displeasure.
With the rules being what they are, things worked out to Brady’s favor, as he’ll go on to play in his ninth Super Bowl, this one against the Los Angeles Rams. Impressively, with nine appearances in the big game, Brady as a player will have had more appearances than any franchise other than his own Patriots.
Even after the dust settled, however, Brady made sure to note his respect for Mahomes, reaching out to the young quarterback after the game for a private conversation. While Mahomes will have to wait for his chance to play a Super Bowl, very little changes with regards to his long-term outlook — this guy is going to be real, real good.
