The Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs faced off in the 2023 AFC Championship Game, and the Chiefs came out on top, 17-10. For the Chiefs, the win marked four times in the last five years that they have appeared in the Super Bowl.
A big reason for the Chiefs’ victory and even being in the game itself was quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Did the win solidify Mahomes as the NFL’s best quarterback of this generation?
Is Patrick Mahomes the NFL’s Best Quarterback of This Generation?
The game started fast, especially for the Chiefs. Despite only scoring 17 points the entire game, the Chiefs scored their two touchdowns on their first two drives. The first was a 19-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to Travis Kelce to give the Chiefs an early lead they would never give up.
On the day, Mahomes completed 30 of 39 passes (76.9%) for 241 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. Mahomes also had six rushes for 15 yards, including multiple key first downs. Eleven of his passes went to Kelce, who caught all of them for 116 yards and one score.
MAHOMES TO KELCE. 17th TIME IN THE PLAYOFFS.
📺: #KCvsBAL on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/IIZbdmhqNS pic.twitter.com/Icli7WxL5A— NFL (@NFL) January 28, 2024
His performance against the Ravens gave him a three-game postseason stat line of 239.2 yards per game, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. He’s also completed 68% of his passes and has only taken two sacks.
The win advanced Mahomes’ playoff record to 14-3. However, the storyline in 2023 has been the Chiefs going on the road. Before 2023, Mahomes had never traveled for a postseason game. Now, he’s done it twice, going 2-0.
“I knew going on the road, we were going to be okay,” Mahomes said. “We have a lot of dogs in that locker room.”
Mahomes has been the Chiefs’ starting quarterback since 2018 after being taken in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Since then, he has won two of each of the following: Super Bowls, Super Bowl MVPs, MVPs, and first-team All-Pros. He’s also made six Pro Bowls and been named second-team All-Pro once.
Additionally, beyond just individual awards, Mahomes and the Chiefs have made the AFC Championship Game in all six seasons Mahomes has started. In those six seasons, they’ve made the Super Bowl four times and won it all twice, with a chance to make it three this season.
At just 28 years old, Mahomes’ four Super Bowl appearances tie him for the third most Super Bowl appearances for a quarterback all-time. He sits only behind Tom Brady and John Elway with 10 and five, respectively. He’s tied with Eli Manning, Jim Kelly, Frank Reich, Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach, and Earl Morrall.
“Patrick Mahomes retires today he’s the best I’ve ever seen & there’s no conversation,” former NFL player Ryan Clark said on X (formerly known as Twitter). “He goes into the Hall with no vote. It’s almost become laughable. We should probably stop critiquing regular season woes and struggles. Just wait until Championship weekend & watch then.”
In his career, Mahomes has passed for 28,424 yards, 219 touchdowns, and 63 interceptions. He has a career completion percentage of 66.5% and a passer rating of 103.5.
Mahomes currently owns four NFL records in career playoff passer rating, career passing yards per game, total yards by a quarterback in a season, and passing touchdowns in a single postseason. He’s led the NFL in passing touchdowns twice, including one season in which he had 50.
Mahomes and the Chiefs will now face the winner of the NFC in Las Vegas for the Super Bowl. The NFC Championship Game will be between the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers. If the Lions are to win, it will be the franchise’s first-ever Super Bowl. If the 49ers win, it will be a rematch of Super Bowl LIV.
As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!