Before the Kansas City Chiefs drafted quarterback Patrick Mahomes in 2017, a dark cloud hung over the franchise that prevented them from achieving any success beyond the regular season. Since winning Super Bowl IV, the Chiefs have been viewed as one of the most cursed football clubs with a 4-16 playoff record from 1970-2017 and never appearing in another Super Bowl after the 1970 merger.
After Mahomes took over as the starter in 2018, the worst he’s done is losing in the AFC Championship in overtime. The all-pro signal-caller is responsible for lifting several curses that have haunted Kansas City such as winning the franchise’s first home playoff game since 1993 and being the first Chiefs QB to hoist a Lombardi since Len Dawson did it in 1969. Mahomes has taken Kansas City to even greater heights as the NFL’s next dynasty. Despite that, there’s still one more curse he can lift this season that’s haunted Chiefs teams of the past.
After defeating the Houston Texans, 27-19 on Saturday, the Chiefs have improved to 14-1 on the season and extended the NFL record for most consecutive one-score victories to 16. Kansas City has clinched the AFC West for the ninth consecutive season and finished undefeated at Arrowhead Stadium for just the fourth time in franchise history. They’ve never won more than eight straight home games in the same season.
The 1995, 1997, and 2003 Chiefs all finished 8-0 at home, finished 13-3, earned the top seed in the playoffs, and went one-and-done in the postseason.
If Mahomes can lead the Chiefs to just one postseason victory, it will be the time Kansas City has done so after going undefeated at home. However, the Chiefs are chasing far bigger things than just one playoff win and won’t be satisfied with anything less than a Super Bowl victory.
Still, the fact there’s an achievement out there that Mahomes hasn’t claimed yet is wild, but it’s a curse that probably won’t be around much longer soon as the playoffs begin.
