Patrick Mahomes has an opportunity to exorcise one last Chiefs playoff ghost
If you want to know how the Chiefs’ fortunes have changed since Patrick Mahomes became the starting quarterback, just look at the nicknames given to playoff games.
Where once there were the dreadful “No Punt Game” and “Lin Elliott Game,” there is now the “13 Seconds Game” and “No Fireworks Game.”
But there is one postseason ghost the Chiefs have yet to overcome in their history and it’s noteworthy because of how their 2024 season transpired. The Chiefs were a perfect 8-0 in games at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
It’s the fifth time in Chiefs history they’ve finished unbeaten at home in the regular season and, well, the other four times ended poorly.
Here’s a closer look.
1971: The Chiefs lost their only playoff game, 27-24 to the Dolphins (2OT).
1995: The Chiefs lost their only playoff game, 10-7 to the Colts.
1997: The Chiefs lost their only playoff game, 14-10 to the Broncos.
2003: The Chiefs lost their only playoff game, 38-31 to the Colts.
That’s four unbeaten home slates that ended with the Chiefs being one-and-done in the playoffs. This season’s Chiefs team will try to end that streak when the Divisional Round of the postseason begins this Saturday.
This story was originally published January 13, 2025 at 10:04 AM.
