Patrick Mahomes is well-suited for his new nickname, The Grim Reaper

Patrick Mahomes has built a legacy in just a few seasons. After defeating the Buffalo Bills in one of the greatest, if not the greatest AFC Divisional Round in playoff history, “Showtime” Mahomes is no longer. The nickname that will now and forever belong to Patrick Mahomes is, “The Grim Reaper.”

Josh Allen had driven down the field and scored a touchdown to take the lead with just 13 seconds left in regulation. When Mahomes looked to Andy Reid for advice, Reid reportedly (according to his postgame presser) told Mahomes, “When it looks grim, be the grim reaper.”

When the offense took the field, many fans had begun to file to the exits. The angsty silence had taken hold, but “The Grim Reaper” was about to slay the Buffalo defense in two plays that had to be perfect. On a quick pass to the middle of the field, Tyreek Hill picked up 19 yards behind some blockers. Then, like clockwork, Travis Kelce and Mahomes improvised. Kelce cuts upfield in between two defenders and Mahomes puts the pass right on the money for 25 yards. Harrison Butker did the rest and the Chiefs sent the game to overtime.

Patrick Mahomes has a new nickname that is his best yet: “The Grim Reaper.”

The Chiefs won the toss as they entered overtime and elected to receive. At that point, CBS panned the Bills sideline and found a defeated-looking Josh Allen. It wasn’t because he was feeling down on the way he played. It wasn’t that he was overly focused on the game. The reason Allen looked like he was at a funeral when the Chiefs got the ball was that he knew that his time was up. The Grim Reaper had come to collect.

Mahomes and company marched down the field and Kelce caught the game-winner. Kansas City moves on to host the Bengals in their fourth straight AFC Championship. The Bills go home wondering what they could have done differently. The Patrick Mahomes legacy grows.

Andy Reid and Mahomes have the ability to take the Chiefs to their third straight Super Bowl. For a team that had to wait decades in between their last Super Bowl appearances, this would have once seemed impossible. The truth is that Mahomes is the NFL’s brightest star. He has a serious opportunity to take over the Tom Brady legacy in the coming years. While the media is ready for someone else to take hold, the truth is, The Grim Reaper is here to stay.