The Buffalo Bills’ victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2024 NFL playoffs has set up an exciting matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round. However, this time, the game will be played in Buffalo, marking a significant change from their previous clashes. Throughout the Patrick Mahomes era, the Chiefs have often been the top seed in the AFC, boasting an impressive regular-season record of 74-22 under the leadership of Mahomes and coach Andy Reid. But this season, the Chiefs finished with a record of 11-6, the same as the Bills, who secured the No. 2 seed by beating Kansas City head-to-head.
This shift in the playoff dynamics puts Mahomes in an unfamiliar position – he will be asked to win a road playoff game for the first time in his career. Although Mahomes has played away from home in each of his three Super Bowl appearances, those games are classified as neutral-site games. Therefore, his upcoming trip to Buffalo will present him with one of his biggest postseason challenges yet.
While Mahomes has never played a road playoff game, he has faced the Bills in Buffalo before. In Week 6 of the 2020 NFL season, Mahomes led the Chiefs to a 26-17 victory over the Bills. He had an impressive performance, completing 22 of 27 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 36 yards on 10 carries. However, it is worth noting that the game took place in an empty stadium due to the strict attendance policies imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This time around, Mahomes will be facing both the Buffalo team and the passionate Bills Mafia in person for the first time in his career.
Looking at Mahomes’ overall playoff record, it is clear that he has been a force to be reckoned with. He has posted an impressive 12-3 record during his NFL career, including two postseasons where he went 3-0 and won a Super Bowl. To put this into perspective, the legendary Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had a record of 13-2 in his first 15 postseason starts, winning three Super Bowls across five postseasons. Mahomes has achieved similar success, although he fell short of winning his third championship against Brady’s Buccaneers.
When it comes to playing at home in the playoffs, Mahomes has been nothing short of exceptional. He boasts a remarkable 10-2 record in postseason games played at Arrowhead Stadium. His only losses have come in neutral-site games, with Super Bowl 55 being the closest he came to experiencing a true road game during his NFL career. Even then, the limited attendance due to COVID-19 capacity restrictions made it a unique situation. Therefore, Mahomes’ upcoming game against the Bills will undoubtedly provide him with a new and unique test.
As the game approaches, it remains to be seen whether Mahomes can rise to the challenge of winning on the road in the playoffs. His talent, experience, and track record suggest that he is more than capable of overcoming this obstacle. However, facing the Bills in Buffalo, with their passionate fanbase known as the Bills Mafia, adds an extra layer of difficulty. Only time will tell if Mahomes can lead the Chiefs to victory and continue his impressive postseason legacy.