Welcome To The Real NFL, Patrick Mahomes

“If it doesn’t happen to my team, then does it really matter”? Those are the thoughts of most NFL fans spread across the globe. Well, during Super Bowl LV, the Kansas City Chiefs, their fans, and especially, QB Patrick Mahomes now understand just how crappy that phrase is.

With the Chiefs forced to use a makeshift Offensive Line due to injuries, they went into the biggest game of the year just hoping their QB and playmakers could continue the magic on offense they’ve used for two straight seasons.

But what Mahomes found out is that the Chiefs are just like every other team in the league. It’s hard to plug and play. It’s hard to take out a leader on the O-Line, rotate players out of position, and expect success. But analysts believed that Mahomes was that good and he would not be affected. Boy, were they wrong.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers showed no mercy on the defensive end. With the line hobbled, the Bucs defense held the Chiefs’ offense without a touchdown and made Mahomes’ Super Bowl Game resembled the season of Carson Wentz.

Let’s be real here. Mahomes is a way better QB than Wentz. But for one night, the two QB’s were mirror images.

Wentz, once a front-runner for league MVP is close to being traded by the Philadelphia Eagles for having a terrible season. Why is this relevant to the Chiefs and Mahomes?

Imagine Mahomes having to deal with an injured Offensive Line all season. Imagine Mahomes having his best receivers and tight ends consistently dropping passes? Image Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy abandoning the ground game because they’re trailing. Imagine having so much pressure coming at you the moment you snap the ball that you’re either running for your life, pressing the issue, and causing turnovers?

All that happened in one game for Mahomes. But look at Wentz, this is what happened to him and Jalen Hurts all season. On the year, the Eagles used 14 different starting lineups on the Offensive Line in 16 games. The pressure Wentz and Hurts faced often caused them to leave the pocket or rush a throw into coverage that was intercepted. And for that, Wentz is now on the trade block.

It’s funny how sports work. One team’s issues are never another team’s issues until it is. Mahomes is arguably the best QB in the NFL. But for one game, he was just average. He looked no different than Derek Carr, Wentz, Jared Goff, or Mitch Trubisky. When Eagles, Raiders, Giants, and Bears fans spoke, it was perceived as excuses.

The line being shuffled, playmakers either injured or not doing their jobs. For the Chiefs, it was a blimp. However, for other teams, it’s a 16-game reality.

We’re not saying the Chief’s reign is coming to an end. But what Patrick Mahomes faced and how he and the team responded was a showing tale that’s he’s not as superhuman as many have pegged him to be. One game was all it took. Imagine dealing with that all season long?