Chiefs enter brave new world with Patrick Mahomes

For almost the entirety of the franchise’s history, the Kansas City Chiefs have been wandering the NFL wastelands without a top-notch quarterback. The team has never been able to draft and develop one, with Len Dawson, Trent Green, Joe Montana and Alex Smith all coming to Kansas City via trade or free agency.

Now, suddenly, the Chiefs appear to have a demigod at quarterback, home-grown and all. Patrick Mahomes has only started five games in the NFL, and he’s already one of the top performers at the position. Through four games this season, Mahomes has 14 touchdowns (and another rushing TD) without a turnover, leading the Chiefs to a 4-0 start despite the league’s worst-ranked defense.

There appears to be nothing out of his realm, with Mahomes bordering and then careening into the absurd on Monday Night Football against the Denver Broncos. Trailing 23-13 in the fourth quarter, Mahomes led the Chiefs on a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive that ended with Travis Kelce finding the end zone. After Denver went 3-and-out, Kansas City got the ball back and watched as Mahomes authored a drive of mythic proportions.

Starting the drive at his own 40-yard line, Mahomes and the Chiefs reached the Denver 49 on a play that will be shown on repeat for years. Facing 3rd and 5, Mahomes drifted left under heavy pressure before putting the ball in his left hand and — in his words from the postgame presser — shot-putting it to Tyreek Hill for six yards and a first down.

If you didn’t see the play, you wouldn’t believe it. Hell, yours truly has seen it a dozen times, and it’s still incomprehensible.

Then, after that defining moment for a second-year man on the precipice of greatness, it all went backwards… rapidly. After a pair of penalties, Kansas City faced 2nd and 30 with the Broncos’ faithful in full throat.

Instead of wilting under almost impossible circumstances, Mahomes stepped to the fore and delivered a 23-yard strike running to his right, evading pressure and finding Demarcus Robinson. On 3rd and 7, Mahomes once again moved to his right before uncorking a deep ball to a wide-open Demetrius Harris, moving Kansas City into the red zone.

Ultimately, Kareem Hunt barreled into the end zone, the Chiefs held Denver’s last drive in check, and Mahomes ended the contest moments later with a kneel down. All told, the Texas Tech product went for 304 yards and a touchdown, putting him on pace for exactly 4,800 passing yards and 56 touchdown passes.

For what has been virtually forever, the Chiefs have been searching, praying to find a franchise quarterback. After long last, the search is over, and Mahomes is intent on making up for lost time.