At this point, it’s more than fair to call Patrick Mahomes the Michael Jordan of the NFL. Not only in the sense of his greatness while leading the Kansas City Chiefs to postseason glory every year but also in how he prevents his extremely talented counterparts from tasting their own success.
Mahomes is now 14-3 in the playoffs as a starter. That’s 14 different instances where Pro Bowl-caliber quarterbacks, superstars, and signal-callers on the verge of Lombardi Trophy greatness were impeded by the best football player alive. And given that Mahomes doesn’t turn 29 until mid-September, chances are the list of playoff quarterback conquests will only continue to grow in the coming years.
Let’s take a look at all 12 quarterbacks Mahomes has overcome in his iconic postseason career so far.
1
Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts (2011 AFC divisional round)
We didn’t know it at the time, but this was actually the last NFL game Andrew Luck ever played. Even while getting pantsed by the Chiefs, it felt like those Colts were on the brink of something special. Alas, this was just the beginning of the Mahomes era in the league.
2
Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans (2020 AFC divisional round)
The Texans and Deshaun Watson — who was once accused of more than 20 allegations of sexual misconduct in what the NFL would later characterize as “predatory behavior” — had Mahomes’ Chiefs on the ropes in this one. But then Kansas City made coming back from a 24-0 deficit look impossibly easy. Though, to be fair, that’s just the story of Mahomes in the playoffs.
3
Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans (2020 AFC title game)
Tannehill’s upstart Titans seemingly had the Chiefs on their heels with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. But then Mahomes dropped nearly 350 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns in a matchup that felt more like a coronation for Kansas City.
4
Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers (Super Bowl 54)
With his first career Super Bowl in sight, Mahomes wasn’t about to let Garoppolo’s 49ers stand in the way. Mahomes led the Chiefs to their first championship in decades after overcoming a 20-10 halftime deficit and a 20-17 lead in the final six minutes of the game.
5
Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns (2021 AFC divisional round)
Mahomes Chiefs’ were on a repeat quest the following year, and Mayfield’s Browns presented the first obstacle. After Mahomes suffered a concussion, Chad Henne was forced to steer Kansas City the rest of the way en route to a third consecutive AFC title game appearance.
6
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills (2021 AFC title game, 2022 AFC divisional round, 2024 AFC divisional round)
Allen and the Bills are the closest thing Mahomes’ Chiefs have to a true peer in the current NFL. And Mahomes is 3-0 in the playoffs against Allen, having captured the only road win in this postseason “rivalry.”
7
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (2022 AFC wild card game)
With the Chiefs trying to redeem themselves from a loss in Super Bowl 55, they had the pleasure of facing down Roethlisberger’s Steelers at the beginning of their 2022 playoff journey. This one was never close, with Mahomes and Kansas City jumping out to a 35-7 lead while never looking back in a 42-21 win. Roethlisberger himself barely topped 200 total passing yards.
8
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (2023 AFC divisional round)
After going two years without a Super Bowl title, the top-seeded Chiefs had Lawrence’s Jaguars visit town as the first step of their 2023 postseason journey. While Lawrence made it interesting, an injured Mahomes (this time, his ankle) did just enough to elevate Kansas City to yet another AFC championship game appearance.
9
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (2023 AFC title game)
Just a year prior, Burrow’s Bengals did the unthinkable. They beat Mahomes’ Chiefs in Kansas City in the playoffs. After all the talk of “Burrowhead,” a fiery Mahomes got revenge on the Bengals to clinch a berth in Super Bowl 57.
10
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (Super Bowl 58)
In an instant classic, a true all-time Super Bowl, Mahomes delivered perhaps the most heroic performance of his career. After the Chiefs overcame another 10-point halftime deficit in the big game, a still-hurt Mahomes had his way with a desperate Eagles’ defense scrambling for a stop. Philadelphia never got it.
11
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (2024 AFC divisional round)
In subzero temps at home, Mahomes didn’t have to do much to outduel Tagovailoa’s struggling Dolphins offense. Miami’s usually high-flying probably didn’t have a shot as soon it got off the plane.
12
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens (2024 AFC title game)
Both Mahomes and Jackson have won MVP awards in their illustrious careers, but it took until nearly halfway through the 2020s before we saw them square off in the playoffs. Jackson’s Ravens were probably good enough to win the Super Bowl, especially with a home AFC title game. Predictably, Mahomes just wouldn’t let that happen.
