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- The Chiefs acquired Patrick Mahomes from the Bills in a big trade
- Mahomes meets up with Buffalo and Josh Allen on Sunday
- Which team got the best side of the trade?
Patrick Lavon Mahomes II, born in September of 1995, needs no introduction. Last year’s Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl MVP has taken the league by storm since being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017.
Oh, how I bet the Bears ownership wish they had taken him at the second overall pick instead of Mitch Trubisky. Instead, Mahomes fell to the tenth overall pick where he was scooped up after the Kansas City Chiefs traded up to get him with the Buffalo Bills receiving the Chiefs’ first round pick and third round pick for that year, and their first round pick in 2018.
Now, that’s a great deal considering what Mahomes has gone on to do since being named the starter following Alex Smith‘s trade to Washington.
It isn’t all bad for the Bills either, as the Bills used that 2017 first to take Tre’Davious White, who is now considered one of the league’s top shutdown cornerbacks. They then flipped the third round pick to the LA Rams, and in 2018, they used that second first round pick to make trades with the Bears and Tampa to move up to 7th where they took the man that has gone on to become their franchise quarterback and one of the best quarterbacks in the league: Josh Allen.
So, you could say it worked out for both teams perfectly. Kansas City got one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game judging by his start, and the Bills got a lockdown corner and their franchise quarterback who could also possibly go down as a great.
Magnificent first season
In Mahomes’ first season as starter in 2018, he threw for a phenomenal 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns, and how special he is was apparent from the moment he stepped on to the field. In his first game as starter, Mahomes torched the LA Chargers for 256 yards and 4 touchdowns, earning him the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award.
Since that day, he has continuously put teams to the sword with a variety of different skills, whether it’s his elusiveness in the pocket, his absolutely astounding arm strength, or his ridiculously effective side-arm passes. In a phenomenal game at Arrowhead, the Chiefs met their match in eventual Bowl winners, the New England Patriots, but it was a close thing, and but for one offside call, it would have been them to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
There was no chance stopping them in 2019 with the Chiefs running away to a Super Bowl victory that seemed concluded after Mahomes returned from a Patella injury in Week 5 to absolutely blitz the Tennessee Titans for 446 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Following their 12-4 regular season finish, the Chiefs found themselves in a 24-0 hole early in the game, but you don’t bet against Mahomes. They then went on a 51 point annihilation, finally winning 51-31. Mahomes threw for five touchdowns.
Again, in the Super Bowl they trailed, but you can’t keep Mahomes down and they eventually won, earning the Chiefs their first win in fifty years, with Mahomes snagging the Super Bowl MVP award and becoming the youngest quarterback to ever do so.
Mahomes’ magic
All throughout his young career, Mahomes has made magic happen. Perhaps the most incredible thing is how devastatingly effective he is when the situation demands it. When he cocks his head to the side like he does when he’s listening, you know something is coming, and you’d better be ready for it when it does.
Let’s start with his jumping pass to Mecole Hardman against Tennessee. With multiple defenders around him, Mahomes finds a gap to get the ball through, leaping before firing a laser-guided pass to Hardman who then turns on the jets to make it to the endzone. This kind of inventiveness, elusiveness, and ability to actually execute is simply astounding.
Bad news for the Titans as they’re up again. Again, they thought they had him penned up back there, but the arm comes out and gloriously, accurately, finds Sammy Watkins for what would prove to be a touchdown integral to them taking the win.
This next one is an absolute favourite and it’ll live on his highlight reel forever.
The footwork and elusiveness to turn the defenders and get out wide is unreal. Following that up with a ball thrown on the run that only Pringle can catch is essentially supernatural. Some leading NFL quarterbacks have never made a play like this, but Mahomes can make them on a whim. I’ve used this particular clip because it also includes the previous pass – a beautiful side-arm sling to Travis Kelce.
So, there we have examples of Mahomes Magic, and that’s but three! There are so many to choose from. I’m sure you have your own favourites.
This week, however, Mahomes and the Chiefs get to go head-to-head against a resurgent and dominant Buffalo Bills, who led by Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, cannot be counted out. They’re physical, they move the ball well, and Allen has hit unbelievable form this year.
Will this decide who got the best deal out of that trade three seasons ago? Maybe.
Josh Allen has the potential to take the Bills all the way, but Mahomes is in his way, and if you want to be the best you have to beat the best. I’m just hoping for a high scoring pass-heavy battle, and I may get my wish if the Chiefs take an early lead today!
