It appeared like a foul damage for Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes. Then he did what he at all times does | USAEMALL.com

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In a matter of seconds, the loud roar at Arrowhead Stadium dissipated. Most fans went silent.

Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs’ leading man, had thrown a touchdown pass but ended the play with his hands on his helmet and his facemask on the wet turf, his knees and elbows close together to illustrate how much pain he felt. In those seconds, everyone in the Chiefs organization wondered what happened. What part of Mahomes’ body did he hurt? Could he even finish Monday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Or did he sustain a frightening non-contact, season-ending injury, perhaps sinking the Chiefs’ chances of capturing an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl victory?

When Mahomes entered the medical tent on the Chiefs’ sideline, coach Andy Reid walked toward Carson Wentz, telling the veteran backup quarterback to get ready to finish the game. Mahomes exited the tent in less than two minutes.

“I thought he was joking,” Mahomes said with a smile. “I was like, ‘Come on, we’re not doing this again.’”

Unlike the AFC divisional-round game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2022 postseason, Mahomes didn’t miss a snap against the Buccaneers despite having a sprained left ankle. Similar to that memorable playoff game, which started the team’s championship run, Mahomes returned to the field and played most of the fourth quarter and overtime through his injury Monday night to lead the Chiefs (8-0) to a 30-24 comeback victory in a rainstorm.

“He trusts me,” Mahomes said of Reid. “Once the doctors checked it out and I was able to get back and do the (dropbacks) again, he let me get back on the field. As time went on, the pain subsided.”

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Early in the fourth quarter, Mahomes sustained his injury when he scrambled out of the pocket and flicked a short pass to running back Samaje Perine, whose 7-yard touchdown tied the game. Mahomes said he felt pain in his ankle when he planted his left foot on the slippery tuft just before releasing the pass.

Two trainers had to help Mahomes walk across the field to be further evaluated. In the tent, additional tape was applied to Mahomes’ left ankle and foot to manage the swelling.

“I was running for the goal line and had committed to running the ball,” Mahomes said. “At the last second, I saw Samaje and awkwardly rolled the ankle a little bit. It was definitely scary. It hurt more because it was the same ankle I rolled last week (against the Las Vegas Raiders). Once I calmed down a little bit, it ended up being not too bad.”

With 12 minutes left in regulation, the fans at Arrowhead produced an even louder ovation when Mahomes re-entered the game. Inside the Chiefs’ huddle, running back Kareem Hunt had a simple thought.

“We’re going to have to run the ball,” Hunt said. He added of Mahomes’ injury: “I was just hoping it wasn’t too bad.”

What came next was the Chiefs’ most impressive drive of the season, considering their circumstances.

Mahomes and Hunt orchestrated a methodical 15-play drive in which the offense took more than eight minutes off the clock, didn’t commit a penalty and scored a touchdown to take a 24-17 lead. Mahomes continued his excellence on third down, finding tight end Travis Kelce and receiver Justin Watson to continue the Chiefs’ drive. Hunt gained tough yards between the tackles and converted a fourth-and-inches snap near midfield.

“It’s my mindset and my love for the game,” Hunt said of his performance as he finished with 27 carries for a season-high 106 yards. “Even when I was on the couch (in early September), I didn’t know when I was going to get a call — or if I was going to get a call — but I stayed positive and kept working out. I was just waiting for an opportunity to show the world what I can do. I was kind of hungry for the ball.”

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With the Chiefs facing third-and-goal from the Buccaneers’ 5-yard line, Mahomes found wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in a one-on-one matchup for an easy touchdown. Hopkins caught the ball after running a crisp slant route against cornerback Josh Hayes. Hopkins was excellent in his first home game as a Chief after the Oct. 23 trade from the Tennessee Titans. He finished with eight receptions on nine targets for 86 yards and two touchdowns.

“He’s so good at winning one-on-one,” Mahomes said of Hopkins. “To be able to have him down in the red zone and third-down situations, he does a good job of finding those windows, kind of like Travis does. As he figures out the entire offense, he’ll get even better.”

In the final minute of regulation, quarterback Baker Mayfield led the Buccaneers (4-5) to an impressive touchdown drive.

Without his top two receivers, Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (left ankle), Mayfield did just about everything coach Todd Bowles could’ve asked of him. Mayfield didn’t commit a turnover and was efficient on short and intermediate passes, many of the completions going to tight ends and running backs. The lone issue for the Buccaneers is that two decisions they made late in the game prevented them from beating the Chiefs, which would’ve been their best victory of the season.

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With 27 seconds left in regulation, Bowles elected not to keep his offense on the field for a potential game-winning two-point conversion.

“I am surprised,” Hunt said of Bowles’ decision. “They gave us a chance, but I guess (it was) whoever had the ball last. It could’ve (gone) either way.”

Before overtime began, Mayfield showed his frustration at midfield after he called tails and the coin landed on heads, giving the Chiefs the ball. Mayfield was never on the field again. From the sideline, he watched Mahomes engineer the game-winning drive.

“Pat goes down, it’s raining and they know we’re going to run the ball,” Watson said. “We talk about it all the time: Let’s run the ball when the other team knows we’re running it. It’s cool to see that. It’s cool to see that and Pat comes back and toughs it out for us. It was just a good team win.”

Mahomes was brilliant in overtime, completing all five of his passes.

The Chiefs’ first play in overtime was a play-action pass to Hunt, who gained 11 yards. Mahomes still showed decent mobility, whether moving in the pocket to complete a short pass to Kelce or keeping the ball on a run-pass option for a 2-yard gain. Hopkins won another one-on-one matchup on the perimeter for a 15-yard reception.

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Despite the rainfall and his injury, Mahomes’ accuracy never suffered. His pinpoint passes led to 291 passing yards and a season-high three touchdowns.

“I pride myself on being able to throw in any condition,” Mahomes said. “That’s something that’s an advantage at Arrowhead. If it’s raining, snowing, cold or hot, I want to be the best thrower of the ball on the field. That’s why we want home-field advantage and the playoffs to come through Arrowhead because it’s a special place and you have to be able to play in every environment.”

Hunt ended the game with a 2-yard touchdown run, carrying two defenders into the end zone. Mahomes celebrated by lifting his arms to signal the touchdown before the officials confirmed the score.

Mahomes exited the locker room without a walking boot. Instead, he wore his black sneakers and walked away without a significant limp.

“He might have the loosest ankles in America,” Reid said of Mahomes. “It’s ridiculous how he can come back from those things — and then he’s mentally tough.”

(Photo: Jay Biggerstaff / Imagn Images)