Ranking the Chiefs’ 18 playoff games in the Patrick Mahomes Era from best to worst
Although the Chiefs won’t play this weekend as the playoffs begin, they are the biggest NFL story.
The Chiefs are trying to become the first team in league history to win three straight Super Bowl championships. If you’d have told a KC fan that a decade ago, what do you think the response would have been?
At that time, the Chiefs were known for playoff failures, sometimes of epic proportions. But since Patrick Mahomes became their starting quarterback, all that has changed.
The Chiefs’ all-time playoff record was 9-18 before Mahomes. Now it’s 24-21.
The Chiefs are 15-3 in the postseason with Mahomes under center. I ranked those 18 playoff games in the Mahomes Era from best to worst, factoring in what happened in the game and the historical significance.
1. Super Bowl LIV
Feb. 2, 2020 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida
Chiefs 31, 49ers 20
The Chiefs were trailing by 10 points with 9 minutes to play when Patrick Mahomes asked the most famous question in Kansas City history: “Do we have time to run Wasp?” That 2-3 Jet Chip Wasp play not only kickstarted a comeback, it became part of franchise lore. After Mahomes completed a long pass to Tyreek Hill on the play, the Chiefs would score three touchdowns to secure the franchise’s first Super Bowl title in five decades. It was also Andy Reid’s first as a coach and it changed the trajectory of the franchise. The Chiefs went from not being able to win the big game to starting an NFL dynasty.
2. 2021 AFC Divisional playoff
Jan. 23, 2022 at Arrowhead Stadium
Chiefs 42, Bills 36 (OT)
It would surprise no one if there one day was a “30 for 30” documentary entitled simply “13 seconds.” The Chiefs seemed finished when the Bills took the lead in this game with 13 seconds to play. But the Chiefs moved into field goal range after two passes and tied the game on a Harrison Butker field goal. The teams combined to score 25 points in the final two minutes of regulation, and in overtime, Travis Kelce caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes to win it. The NFL later changed playoff overtime rules to ensure each team had a possession because of this game.
3. Super Bowl LVIII
Feb. 11, 2024 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas
Chiefs 25, 49ers 22 (OT)
The Chiefs twice tied the game in the fourth quarter, then fell behind in overtime. Patrick Mahomes drove the Chiefs 75 yards in 13 plays, including a clutch fourth-down run. KC won the game on Mahomes’ 3-yard pass to Mecole Hardman, setting off a wild celebration in the Raiders stadium. The Chiefs secured a place in NFL history with the win becoming just the ninth team (and eighth franchise) to win consecutive Super Bowl championships.
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4. Super Bowl LVII
Feb. 12, 2023 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
Chiefs 38, Eagles 35
The Chiefs didn’t take their first lead until the fourth quarter and things looked particularly bad when Patrick Mahomes rolled his injured ankle late in the first half. But he threw three touchdown passes and produced the game’s signature moment on a 26-yard run during the Chiefs’ winning drive. Harrison Butker’s 27-yard field goal with 11 seconds left gave the Chiefs the victory. This was Kadarius Toney’s best game with a touchdown catch and a record punt return.
5. 2019 AFC Championship Game
Jan. 19, 2020 at Arrowhead Stadium
Chiefs 35, Titans 24
Tennessee jumped to a 10-point lead in the first half on a chilly afternoon in Kansas City. But things heated up after the Chiefs fell behind 17-7 in the second quarter. Patrick Mahomes’ electric 27-yard touchdown run just before halftime gave the Chiefs a 21-17 lead. They scored the next two touchdowns in the second half, the last on Mahomes’ 60-yard pass to Sammy Watkins, and secure their first trip to the Super Bowl in 50 years.
6. 2019 AFC Divisional playoff
Jan. 12, 2020 at Arrowhead Stadium
Chiefs 51, Texans 31
Remember when they ran out of fireworks at Arrowhead Stadium? The Chiefs fell behind by 24 points in the second quarter but incredibly led 28-24 at halftime after Patrick Mahomes threw four touchdown passes in the period. Three went to tight end Travis Kelce. The Chiefs scored two more touchdowns in the third quarter and went from being blown out to routing the Texans. Mahomes threw five touchdown passes and had a game-best 53 rushing yards.
7. 2022 AFC Championship Game
Jan. 29, 2023 at Arrowhead Stadium
Chiefs 23, Bengals 20
The Chiefs got revenge for their loss to Cincinnati a year earlier in the AFC title game and this might have been Mahomes’ gutsiest game. He was playing on an injured ankle and four of his top receivers were out because of injury or were sidelined during the game. That left Mahomes throwing to Marques Valdez-Scantling, Skyy Moore and Marcus Kemp. Mahomes still directed a game-winning scoring drive as the Chiefs secured victory on Harrison Butker’s 45-yard field goal.
8. 2023 AFC Divisional playoff
Jan. 21, 2024 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York
Chiefs 27, Bills 24
The doubters said the Chiefs couldn’t win a playoff game on the road, but they aced their first test at Buffalo. Patrick Mahomes threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns with a 131.6 quarterback rating. There were five lead changes and Isiah Pacheco’s 4-yard touchdown run put KC ahead to stay. Tyler Bass missed a potential game-tying field goal late in regulation.
9. 2023 AFC Championship Game
Jan. 28, 2024 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore
Chiefs 17, Ravens 10
Patrick Mahomes has led plenty of late-game comebacks, but this time he helped the Chiefs take a 10-point halftime lead and the defense put the clamps on Lamar Jackson and company. Zay Flowers fumbled at the goal line shortly after taunting L’Jarius Sneed was a prime example of sports karma. Mahomes’ pass to embattled Marquez Valdes-Scantling sealed the win.
10. 2018 AFC Divisional playoff
Jan. 12, 2019 at Arrowhead Stadium
Chiefs 31, Colts 13
In his first postseason game, Patrick Mahomes delivered the Chiefs’ first home playoff victory in 25 years. On a snowy afternoon that knocked power out around Kansas City, the Chiefs jumped to a 17-0 lead and cruised to the victory. The Chiefs had lost their previous three postseason games against the Colts, including two at Arrowhead. Mahomes threw for 278 yards and rushed for a touchdown as the franchise’s fortunes turned for the better.
11. 2020 AFC Divisional playoff
Jan. 17, 2021 at Arrowhead Stadium
Chiefs 22, Browns 17
The Chiefs led 19-3 at the half, but disaster struck in the second half when Patrick Mahomes was injured after a hit while running the ball. Cleveland cut the KC advantage to five points when Chad Henne came up with a long third-down run late in the the game and followed with a pass to Tyreek Hill that got a first down. That allowed the Chiefs to run out the clock and prove Hennething is possible.
12. 2020 AFC Championship Game
Jan. 24, 2021 at Arrowhead Stadium
Chiefs 38, Bills 24
Buffalo took a 9-0 lead but the Chiefs scored three second-quarter touchdowns and seized control of the game. Patrick Mahomes had 325 passing yards and three touchdown throws as the Chiefs went ahead by as many as 23 points in the fourth quarter. Travis Kelce had a huge game with 13 catches, 118 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
13. 2018 AFC Championship Game
Jan. 20, 2019 at Arrowhead Stadium
Patriots 37, Chiefs 31 (OT)
This is known as the “Dee Ford Game,” because he lined up offsides and negated what would have been a game-clinching interception. Although the Chiefs lost, this game had a little bit of everything: questionable calls (Chris Jones roughing the passer), unfortunate mistakes (Ford) and big plays. The Chiefs didn’t score in the first half and trailed 17-7 going into the fourth quarter. The teams then combined for 38 points in the final period on a frigid night. The Chiefs lost the coin toss to start overtime and New England drove for the winning touchdown.
14. 2021 AFC Wild Card Game
Jan. 16, 2022 at Arrowhead Stadium
Chiefs 42, Steelers 21
After falling behind by a touchdown, the Chiefs scored 35 straight points as Patrick Mahomes threw touchdown passes to five different players, including offensive lineman Nick Allegretti. Travis Kelce caught one of those touchdowns, and later threw a scoring pass to Byron Pringle in the fourth quarter as the Chiefs won a laugher.
15. 2023 AFC Wild Card Game
Jan. 13, 2024 at Arrowhead Stadium
Chiefs 26, Dolphins 7
It was negative-4 degrees at kickoff with a wind chill of negative-27 and conditions didn’t improve. Coach Andy Reid’s mustache froze, Patrick Mahomes’ helmet cracked and the Chiefs jumped to a 10-0 lead early and won easily.
16. 2022 AFC Divisional playoff
Jan. 21, 2023 at Arrowhead Stadium
Chiefs 27, Jaguars 20
The Chiefs never trailed in this game, but there was reason for angst as Patrick Mahomes suffered a high-ankle sprain in the first half. Chad Henne directed an epic 98-yard touchdown drive when subbing for Mahomes. But Mahomes returned to close out the win in the second half.
17. 2021 AFC Championship Game
Jan. 30, 2022 at Arrowhead Stadium
Bengals 27, Chiefs 24 (OT)
The Chiefs took a 21-3 lead in the second quarter. After the Bengals scored a touchdown, the Chiefs moved to the Cincinnati 1-yard line but failed to score before halftime. That was the turning point. The Bengals scored 14 more points in the second half. The Chiefs forced overtime on a Harrison Butker field goal at the end, but Patrick Mahomes threw an interception in the extra period and the Bengals won on a field goal.
18. Super Bowl LV
Feb. 7, 2021 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida
Buccaneers 31, Chiefs 9
With the Chiefs starting offensive tackles out of the game, Patrick Mahomes was under constant pressure while dealing with a toe injury. The Chiefs looked out of sorts and part of that can be attributed to the car crash involving Britt Reid, who was a Chiefs assistant at the time, just days before the game. Still, Mahomes wowed the Buccaneers and two dropped passes in the end zone by the Chiefs made this one really lopsided.
This story was originally published January 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM.
