Mahomes: Playing Ketchup and Catch Up

Mahomes: Playing Ketchup and Catch Up – Does it say more about Patrick Mahomes, or the Chiefs Defense, that he’s had to play “Catch Up Ball” 12 times during this calendar year and only once has he lost (to the dastardly Raiders)? On this other matter, I like steak sauce on my steak, but Ketchup? Maybe, just maybe, I have allowed the Ketchup for my steak fries to bleed over into my steak sauce… but straight Ketchup on my steak. Sorry, it just seems like sacrilege to me. You may not have heard but, Mahomes would even go so far as to put Ketchup on his Thanksgiving Turkey! No kidding!

… and maybe we should be worried about the next generation. Yes, proud… but worried.

Playing Ketchup Football

The true inspiration for this piece is something red all right, but not something you consume. Rather, it is something, or some one, that will consume you… if you are another NFL team trying to play from ahead, against these Chiefs. From my piece last week called: “The Good, The Bad, and The Lovely“:

Did you know that the Chiefs have played from behind in 8 out of 12 games so far this season? The Patriots, Broncos (the first game), Jets, and the Bucs were the only teams that did not score first against the Chiefs in 2020 (not counting those playoff games back in January). While that means Patrick Mahomes has been forced to play from behind the majority of the time, I can’t figure out if that’s truly a bad thing, or not… or if it’s just part of some kind of maniacal twisted mad scientist experiment with Andy Reid throwing the switches, because he knows that Patty can raise his team from the dead, like a 4th quarter Frankenstein.

If you add the three playoff games (including the Super Bowl) earlier this year on to the 8 out of 12 games played (up until last week), plus add the Miami game this past Sunday, Mahomes has actually had to play catch up in 12 out of the 16 total games he’s played in 2020. In 4 games it wasn’t necessary… and only one game out of the 12, was a loss. So, let’s take a look at those games where Mahomes had to play ketchup, because you know he likes ketchup on everything!

Let’s not forget that Chris Jones was out for this game. After the Chiefs played miserable football for the first quarter and spotted the Houston Texans 24 points, they went on a run of their own before the half. Four touchdowns later and K.C. went into the locker room with a 28-to-24 lead. Basically, the Chiefs outscored the Texans 51-to-7 following the first quarter. By game’s end, Patrick Mahomes was 23 of 35 for 321 passing yards and 5 (Five) TDs.

After getting down 17-to-7, the Chiefs “flipped the switch” as Alans Haupt likes to say, and ended up with a 28-to-7 run of their own. Mahomes ended up 23/35 and 294 yards and three TD passes. [Odd note: Mahomes had the exact same stat line for passes and completion in these two games]. I’ll never forget the following moment when Mahomes hit Sammy Watkins on a deep route for a TD sending the Chiefs to their first Super Bowl in 50 long years.

With less than seven minutes on the game clock, and down by 20-to-10, Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs to 21 straight points to win the organization’s first Super Bowl in 50 seasons. Mahomes was 26/42 for 246 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs. “Do we have time to WASP?” will go down in Chiefs lore just like 65 Toss Power Trap.

This Thursday Night Football game was not quite as dramatic as any of the Chiefs 2019 playoff victories, but when they fell behind 7-to-nothing I’m sure everyone thought, “Here we go again” but, no one was worried. The only thing is, I didn’t realize playing catch up football was to become a 2020 addiction. Mahomes finished 24/32 for 211 yards and 3 TDs.. Here’s his highlights from that game:

No one, not even Justin Herbert, expected Justin Herbert to start this game but when he took the Chargers right down the field on an 8 play opening drive and then ran it in from 4 yards out, Chiefs fans let out a collective groan. Not to worry, Patty to the rescue. Mahomes finished 27/47 for 302 yards and 2 TDs..

I was less concerned that the Ravens opened the game with an 11 play drive for three points… than I was that it took 9:20 to do so. It didn’t matter, as Mahomes led K.C. on a 6-play drive for a TD to which Harrison Butker promptly missed the extra point. Still, that didn’t matter either as the Chiefs looked like the Super Bowl Champions they are and the Ravens looked like AFC North wannabes. Action included a sweet underhanded shovel pass from Mahomes to Anthony Sherman for a TD. Mahomes led the Chiefs to 21 second quarter points and the Ravens only scored 20 for the game so it wasn’t really a close game: 34-to-20.

This is the only game in this Calendar year which the Chiefs have not won. However, with the score 40-to-32 and K.C. down by 8 points, the Raiders held onto the ball for the last 3:57 of the game. I have no doubt that if the defense could have gotten the ball back, Mahomes would have done his magical best to pull that one out to… and at least send it to overtime.

Both the Chiefs and Bills began the game with drives that stalled, then punted. The Bills then drove 38 yards on 11 plays to kick a FG and led 3-to-0. The Bills never seemed like much of a threat in this one and Mahomes finished: 21/26 for 225 yards and 2 TDs..

This could have ended up being a Trap Game as K.C.seemed to be anticipating their Bye Week and their next game in Las Vegas. When Carolina opened with a 15 play drive for a TD, it was another huh-oh moment. Not to worry, we have Patrick Mahomes. My wondering wandering mind keeps asking, can this last forever? I guess it’s the last 49 years of the Chiefs failures kicking in. Mahomes pulled this one out again, 33-to-31.

While the Panthers took their time scoring, it was equally disquieting to see the Raiders open the game by driving 75 yards in 6 plays and 3:35 for a TD. Not to worry as Mahomes went 34/45 for 348, 2 TDs and an INT. Chiefs 35, Raiders 31.

The Broncos opened this game with QB Drew Lock throwing an INT to Tyrann Mathieu after which, K.C. punted. Next the Broncos drove on 12 plays for 5:50 and kicked a FG to open the scoring. Loiefs defense early in games appears to be a pattern. This game was never in doubt as early as, well, 5 years ago. Chiefs 22, Broncos 16.

Once again, the Chiefs allow a lesser team to get the jump on them. Although I say “lesser team”… these Dolphins are Not Ready For Prime Time Players (which was the best SNL cast ever) but… they will likely be contenders next year with a full complement of healthy players and some new blood to shore up the few holes they have. A too close for comfort game saw Mahomes use most of the last four minutes of the game driving for a TD that gave them a 9 point lead. A lead the Dolphins could not overcome. Chiefs 33, Dolphins 27.

Summary: Playing Ketchup Football

If the Chiefs have to keep playing catch up football, it may eventually be a recipe for disaster. Especially with the playoffs just a few weeks away. If, on the other hand, the coaches can help these players, Flip The Switch, as others suggest they can, there may be nothing to worry about, and as long as Patrick Mahomes is around, there is no game the Chiefs won’t be in to the very end.

Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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