Putting KC Chiefs high-scoring offense into perspective

Everyone knows about how dominant Kansas City’s offense has been since Patrick Mahomes has taken over. In the playoffs, the offense rises to a new level.

One of the biggest things the Kansas City Chiefs proved in the last two postseasons is the fact that the offense will put up plenty of points on the scoreboard in a short time span. From being shutout in the first half to facing a deficit big enough to create the biggest comeback win in team history, the Chiefs offense responds with a burst of fast-paced scores.

During the 2018-19 postseason, the Chiefs were shutout in the first half in the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots. Despite trailing 14-0, the Chiefs put up 31 points in the second half to force overtime.

The Chiefs trailed by double-digits in all three playoff games in the 2019-20 postseason. In the divisional round against the Houston Texans, the Chiefs were down 24-0 and won in what is the biggest come from behind win in franchise history. The Chiefs were down by 10 points, trailing 10-0 and 17-7, in the AFC Championship game against the Tennessee Titans. And of course, the biggest one came in the Super Bowl when the San Francisco 49ers were up 20-10 midway through the fourth quarter. The Chiefs rallied late and put up 21 points to win their first Super Bowl in 50 years.

The Chiefs trailed by a combined 44 points in the playoffs this year and still managed to win by double-digits in each playoff game. Despite a lot of the slow starts in most of their playoff games, the Chiefs have always scored 31 or more points in the five postseason games Patrick Mahomes has started for the Chiefs.

Prior to Mahomes joining the team, the Chiefs played 27 postseason games and averaged 17.7 points per game. With Mahomes under center, the Chiefs are averaging 35.8 points per postseason game—more than double their previous average. For reference, that’s higher than Kansas City’s average of 35.3 points per game in 2018, which was the third highest scoring output in a season in NFL history.

Kansas City’s offense has seen plenty of success in the playoffs in the last two years under Mahomes. Mahomes also benefits from Andy Reid’s system, in addition to being surrounded by a plethora of speed in Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Mecole Hardman and Damien Williams.

The future of the offense has a little bit of uncertainty. Watkins currently owns a hefty contract, which may be restructured. Demarcus Robinson is set to be a free agent as well. But regardless who Mahomes has around him, you can expect the Chiefs offense to continue its dynamic, high-powered ways. Especially in the playoffs every year.