As Patrick Mahomes enters his eighth season as the Kansas City Chiefs‘ quarterback, he is recovering from a noticeable dip in performance last year, marked by career lows such as 26 touchdown passes, 6.8 yards per attempt, and 245.5 passing yards per game. Despite touchdown totals of just 26 and 27 over the past two seasons—down from a previous low of 37 in a 16-game schedule—and failing to surpass 4,000 passing yards for the first time, Mahomes has still directed the Chiefs to three consecutive Super Bowls, including a record-setting 15-win regular season last year. Amid these challenges, his ability to rally late has remained unmatched.
A recent analysis by Warren Sharp on X underscores Mahomes as the only quarterback with a winning record when trailing entering the fourth quarter over the last five seasons, boasting a 14-7 record and a .667 winning percentage. This figure dwarfs others in the league: Lamar Jackson sits at .412 (7-10), Jalen Hurts at .364 (8-14), Tua Tagovailoa at .269 (7-19), and Matthew Stafford at .237 (9-29). Such a winning rate resembles a video game statistic rather than NFL reality.
These numbers highlight Mahomes’ extraordinary skill in orchestrating late-game comebacks, showcasing his calmness, tactical creativity, and ability to lead under intense pressure. While quarterbacks like Jackson, Hurts, and Stafford are known for reliability, Tua Tagovailoa’s presence in the top five surprises many given the controversial nature of his concussions, though he has indeed stepped up in crucial moments. Other notable players, including last year’s MVP Josh Allen at 11th (.176, 3-14) and Joe Burrow at 16th (.148, 4-23), lag far behind in this facet.
Mahomes’ Legendary Fourth Quarter Comebacks on Football’s Biggest Stage
Winning is Mahomes’ ultimate pursuit, and he has proven time and again that he can secure victories regardless of circumstance. His ability to direct remarkable fourth-quarter turnarounds has been central to the Chiefs’ success, including their three recent Super Bowl triumphs. In Super Bowl LIV in 2020, Kansas City trailed 20-10 entering the final quarter against the San Francisco 49ers. Maintaining composure, Mahomes delivered two touchdown passes and led a critical offensive drive that propelled the Chiefs to a 31-20 win, ending a 50-year championship drought for the franchise.
In Super Bowl LVII in 2023, despite battling an ankle injury and trailing 24-14 early in the fourth quarter, Mahomes engineered a memorable comeback that included a decisive touchdown and key plays, culminating in a 38-35 victory. Similarly, in Super Bowl LVIII against the 49ers in 2024, the Chiefs found themselves down 10-3 at halftime and behind in the closing moments of the game. Mahomes’ precise execution pushed the contest into overtime, where he commanded a flawless offensive series to score the winning touchdown, sealing a 25-22 victory.
Chiefs’ Prospects for Continued Dominance in the NFL
If Mahomes continues to display his trademark clutch performance, the Chiefs are poised to make history by becoming only the second team after the 1990-1993 Buffalo Bills to reach four consecutive Super Bowls. Though the Bills could not convert their appearances into championships, the Chiefs have the potential to not only match but surpass that level of sustained excellence and challenge the eight-year AFC supremacy of the Tom Brady-led New England Patriots from 2011 to 2018. Approaching a tenth straight AFC West division title, the Chiefs are closing in on the Patriots’ record 11-year streak, provided Mahomes regains his peak form.
With a revitalized and healthy offense surrounding him, Patrick Mahomes’s Chiefs possess the ability to overwhelm any opponent. Under offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Mahomes twice passed 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns in a single season, earning multiple MVP honors. This year, he aims to reclaim that elite status and quell skeptics who have questioned his recent performance.
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If winning is the most important thing, then Mahomes knows how to win any way he can, as evidenced by his ability to lead spectacular comebacks in the fourth quarter, including his three Super Bowl victories.
” —Warren Sharp, Analyst