Patrick Mahomes’ postseason production is on historic pace for KC Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had a historic day last weekend in the team’s 42-21 playoff victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, and more records are on the horizon for the young QB.

Heading into the Divisional Round showdown with the Buffalo Bills, Mahomes has already made history this postseason.

Mahomes set a new franchise record with 404 passing yards against the Steelers, surpassing Alex Smith’s previous record of 378 yards against the Indianapolis Colts in the 2013 Wild Card round.  His five touchdown passes – in just 10:30 of game time – also tied his own record for the most in a playoff game in franchise history, set against in the 2019 Divisional Round against the Houston Texans.

That Mahomes was able to accomplish these feats against the Steelers should come as no surprise. He has been an absolute beast when it comes to the playoffs.

Patrick Mahomes is on a historic playoff run of production through four seasons.

Despite being just 26 years old and in only his fourth full season as a starter, Mahomes already holds team records in just about every passing category. His franchise-record 2,728 playoff passing yards are almost more than double the second most (Len Dawson, 1,497 yards), and his 22 postseason touchdowns are the same amount that Dawson, Alex Smith, and Joe Montana have combined.

Mahomes also has the most playoff wins of any quarterback in Chiefs history (seven), the most yards per game (303.1), and the highest quarterback rating (105.1).

This Sunday night against the Bills, he will have the chance to add to those franchise-leading stats, as well as move ahead of some venerable players in NFL career playoff stats.

Mahomes needs 238 yards on Sunday to jump from 23rd up to 18th in career playoff passing yards, which would see him move ahead of Matt Hasselbeck, Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, and Hall of Famers Roger Staubach and Warren Moon.

Three passing touchdowns against Buffalo would also have Mahomes move up to equal 12th most all-time alongside Joe Flacco and Russel Wilson, while also moving ahead of Staubach, Donovan McNabb, and Troy Aikman. Wilson and Flacco needed 15 and 16 games respectively to throw their 25 touchdowns, while Mahomes could equal that feat in just his 10th playoff game.

Having set and equaled franchise records for the most passing yards and touchdowns in a game, Mahomes will have a chance to better those records in the Divisional Round on Sunday night. Tom Brady holds the NFL playoff passing record with 505 yards, while the playoff record for most touchdowns in a game is six.

Speaking of Brady, how do Mahomes’ numbers compare to the Patriots and Buccaneers legend? Brady is the all-time NFL playoff leader in games (46), touchdowns (86), yards (12,720), and just about every other major category.

Mahomes averages more yards and touchdowns per game than Brady, and based on his current numbers, he would need another 32 games to reach Brady’s mark of 12,720 yards and another 27 games to throw as many touchdowns.

Brady is of course still playing, and his Buccaneers are currently in the playoffs so his numbers will continue to rise. But should Mahomes—who has yet to miss the playoffs in his career—manage to continue his current trajectory and come close to matching the longevity of Brady’s career, he could one day become the most productive playoff quarterback of all time.