KC Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes didn’t have to be great in win over Bills

The KC Chiefs didn’t need Patrick Mahomes to be a magician on Monday afternoon against the Bills.

There were multiple storylines that followed the Kansas City Chiefs into a rainy Bills Stadium, not the least of which was AFC supremacy, for the Bills are a really good team. One of the other storylines coming into this game, and one that seems to follow Patrick Mahomes around anytime he faces a quarterback with similar talents as his own, is a possible budding rivalry with the Bills duel threat quarterback Josh Allen.

Allen has been known for having a rocket launcher where his arm should be, very similar to Mahomes himself. Because of this, most “experts” assumed that this game would look like a dog fight from Star Wars. It was surprising when, on the Chiefs side of the ball at least, it looked more like a scene from the Lord of the Rings, with very few shots being fired, but a devastating ground attack, and brilliantly led by our field general Mahomes.

One of the most underrated and under appreciated attributes of Mahomes is his ability to adjust to any given situation. Do we think that Mahomes wants to go out and sling the ball around for 300+ yards every game? Well, of course he does, even Mahomes himself would admit that, but he is able to recognize when throwing the ball all over the yard may not be the best strategy at times.

The Chiefs changed their usual plan of attack, and due to the poor weather, we saw a strong dose of the run game. This piece is about Mahomes, but I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to give huge props to Chiefs rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire for a performance that was nothing short of stellar. Edwards-Helaire was an absolute work horse, racking up 161 yards on 26 carries and was the most crucial part of the Chiefs offense, including Mahomes himself, but now, I will return to the man in question.

Of course everyone wants to see Mahomes launching the ball all over the field, it is what we as Chiefs fans have grown accustomed to and rather spoiled by. On a soggy night where a solid grip was difficult and ball protection is paramount, it makes perfect sense why Mahomes and company decided to lean heavily on the running game.

In doing this, Mahomes demonstrated that while his instant reflex is to make a play with his arm, he is also perfectly willing and completely comfortable just handing the ball off and letting his rookie running back be the star and he just a member of the supporting cast. Not only is this not a bash on Mahomes, it is actually a most sincere compliment.

Sometimes Mahomes will strap on the jetpack and take off, but other times he just needs to command his offense and allow others to flourish. That was exactly what the Bills game called for, and Mahomes recognized the situation and facilitated it flawlessly, putting the ball in the hands of his star rookie running back 26 times, and the rookie did not disappoint.

Despite the wet conditions, it turned out to be one of Mahomes’ most accurate games this season, going 21 of 26 for 225 yards, with an 80% completion rating and two touchdown passes. Allen, on the other hand, had only one more passing attempt than Mahomes did, but did not see near as much success in the limited passing game. Allen went 14 of 27 for 122 yards and two touchdown passes, proving that if it does come down to passing, even on a soggy evening in up state New York, Mahomes can still get it done in the passing game when he needs to.

This game was not about flashy plays or fireworks displays, it was not about left-handed passes or one-handed grabs. The Chiefs slogged through a wet field, rain running down their helmets in rivulets, looking every bit like warriors on a field of battle, and they were loving every second of it.