Fans all say same thing as Patrick Mahomes fixes stat that Super Bowl contenders all have in common
‘Patrick Mahomes has a turnover problem’ is not a phrase that is written often. But after throwing two picks in a defeat to the Buffalo Bills, the Kansas City Chiefs gunslinger had 11 interceptions in 10 games – just three shy of his career-worst 14 on a season. Mahomes gets better and better as the season progressesGetty It was the Chiefs’ first defeat of the campaign but the knives were out as doubters insisted their three-peat hopes could be doomed. Since Week 11, he has thrown zero and led his team to a 15-1 record before sitting out a Week 18 dead-rubber. In fact, Kansas City has not conceded a single turnover since Week 12 – there have been 280 in the league as a whole. It is the first time in the Super Bowl era that a team has gone on an eight-game streak without coughing up the rock. While we’re on the subject of the big game, what did all four of the remaining contenders have in common in the Divisional Round? A zero in the turnover column. That is no surprise, there is a reason NFL defenses shifted attention from containing an offense to taking the ball away from them. But it highlights just how costly mistakes can be, as the fancied Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens will have plenty of time to think about as they watch from their homes. It also shows why Mahomes is chasing a third-successive ring and fourth overall. When it matters, he treasures keeping hold of the football like head coach Andy Reid prizes hamburgers. Fans could have taken to social media to praise Mahomes for his incredible turnaround at the business end of the season. Referees have been accused of going easy on Mahomes Mahomes has not thrown a pick since Week 11Getty Predictably, they didn’t, and there was a common theme to the responses. One asked: “How many did they commit and then were called back because of a flag??” “This is certainly because of all the assistance from the refs,” added a second. “How many of them were turned back because of ref ball,” a third ventured. While a fourth managed to drag Travis Kelce‘s pop megastar girlfriend Taylor Swift into it, asking: “Is that because the refs are a secret part of their team? Or are they protected by Swiftie magic?” Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen may certainly feel he is suffering from some kind of curse. He has lost three straight games to Mahomes in the postseason, no quarterback has ever won four in a row against the same opponent. The Bills and Chiefs collide on Sunday for the right to face the Washington Commanders or Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. As well as questioning if the refs are helping Kansas City, fans are also furious about Mahomes and Allen having a perceived tendency to flop under minimal contact. “He [Mahomes] is trying to draw the penalty,” ESPN announcer Troy Aikman said after an incident during the win over the Houston Texans. Rather than just run out of bounds, he slows down. “And that’s been the frustration, and I get it, I understand it. That’s been the frustration for these defensive players around the league.” If Mahomes has a pick called back by a flag on Sunday, the responses may break the internet. Stay Up To Date With The NFL talkSPORT.com is covering more NFL than ever before this season, bringing you breaking news, expert insight and exclusive interviews. To receive all the best of our NFL content, download the talkSPORT app and enable notifications. It’s super simple.
‘Patrick Mahomes has a turnover problem’ is not a phrase that is written often.
But after throwing two picks in a defeat to the Buffalo Bills, the Kansas City Chiefs gunslinger had 11 interceptions in 10 games – just three shy of his career-worst 14 on a season.
It was the Chiefs’ first defeat of the campaign but the knives were out as doubters insisted their three-peat hopes could be doomed.
Since Week 11, he has thrown zero and led his team to a 15-1 record before sitting out a Week 18 dead-rubber.
In fact, Kansas City has not conceded a single turnover since Week 12 – there have been 280 in the league as a whole.
It is the first time in the Super Bowl era that a team has gone on an eight-game streak without coughing up the rock.
While we’re on the subject of the big game, what did all four of the remaining contenders have in common in the Divisional Round? A zero in the turnover column.
That is no surprise, there is a reason NFL defenses shifted attention from containing an offense to taking the ball away from them.
But it highlights just how costly mistakes can be, as the fancied Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens will have plenty of time to think about as they watch from their homes.
It also shows why Mahomes is chasing a third-successive ring and fourth overall.
When it matters, he treasures keeping hold of the football like head coach Andy Reid prizes hamburgers.
Fans could have taken to social media to praise Mahomes for his incredible turnaround at the business end of the season.
Predictably, they didn’t, and there was a common theme to the responses.
One asked: “How many did they commit and then were called back because of a flag??”
“This is certainly because of all the assistance from the refs,” added a second.
“How many of them were turned back because of ref ball,” a third ventured.
While a fourth managed to drag Travis Kelce‘s pop megastar girlfriend Taylor Swift into it, asking: “Is that because the refs are a secret part of their team? Or are they protected by Swiftie magic?”
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen may certainly feel he is suffering from some kind of curse.
He has lost three straight games to Mahomes in the postseason, no quarterback has ever won four in a row against the same opponent.
The Bills and Chiefs collide on Sunday for the right to face the Washington Commanders or Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.
As well as questioning if the refs are helping Kansas City, fans are also furious about Mahomes and Allen having a perceived tendency to flop under minimal contact.
“He [Mahomes] is trying to draw the penalty,” ESPN announcer Troy Aikman said after an incident during the win over the Houston Texans. Rather than just run out of bounds, he slows down.
“And that’s been the frustration, and I get it, I understand it. That’s been the frustration for these defensive players around the league.”
If Mahomes has a pick called back by a flag on Sunday, the responses may break the internet.
Stay Up To Date With The NFL
talkSPORT.com is covering more NFL than ever before this season, bringing you breaking news, expert insight and exclusive interviews.
To receive all the best of our NFL content, download the talkSPORT app and enable notifications. It’s super simple.
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