Kansas Metropolis Chiefs: What subsequent for Patrick Mahomes and co after Tremendous Bowl 59 heartbreak? | NFL Information

They have been on the precipice of a historic three-peat, solely to emphatically be knocked off their perch by the Philadelphia Eagles in a 40-22 drubbing at Tremendous Bowl 59 that, if something, flattered them.

So what subsequent for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs?

That is no disaster, no prompter for blind panic. The Chiefs are nonetheless the all-conquering drive that has by no means skilled something lower than an AFC Championship look in all of Patrick Mahomes’ seven seasons as beginning quarterback – reaching 5 Tremendous Bowls in that span.

He is gained three of these, named MVP on every event, however has tasted defeat within the different two.

“Any time you lose a Tremendous Bowl, it is the worst feeling on the earth that can stick to you for the remainder of your profession,” Mahomes stated after the defeat.

“It is exhausting to return again from that within the Tremendous Bowl. I’ve to be taught from that and attempt to be higher the following alternative that I hopefully get.”

Mahomes is much from operating out of alternatives. In addition to pursuing the three-peat, he hoped to grow to be the primary quarterback in NFL historical past to win 4 Tremendous Bowls earlier than turning 30.

Nevertheless it does not imply that defeat stings any much less. Mahomes was seen teary-eyed on the Chiefs sideline as the ultimate seconds ticked by in New Orleans, Tom Brady’s document haul of seven Tremendous Bowls feeling that little bit extra unattainable.

“I take into consideration, sadly, the three [Super Bowl] losses most likely greater than I take into consideration the seven wins,” Brady himself admitted throughout his first broadcast as commentator on the massive sport.

“It hurts to lose this sport. We misplaced to the [New York] Giants in 2007. We have been on the precipice of historical past [and an unbeaten season] and we confronted a Giants workforce that performed their hearts out that day and beat us.

“I nonetheless have not actually lived it down, since you care so deeply. And I do know that this Chiefs workforce does as nicely.”

Mahomes’ second Tremendous Bowl loss with the Chiefs truly had a really acquainted really feel to his first, which got here in opposition to Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to cap the 2020 season.

Mahomes additionally threw two interceptions in that 31-9 blowout defeat to the Bucs, albeit he was sacked simply the thrice in comparison with the six he wore within the Superdome in New Orleans

“It utterly had this boa constrictor really feel round it,” Sky Sports activities’ Phoebe Schecter stated on the Tremendous Bowl-review Inside The Huddle podcast. “The Eagles protection gave them no air.

“They’re a workforce that’s primary in not permitting explosive performs. They’re so good at open-field tackling, and so they’re actually good. They solely rush 4, which challenges the quarterback on what he’s seeing.

“The offensive line struggled a lot. The Eagles began to bully them and Mahomes had nowhere to step up into to throw the soccer.”

The Eagles protection compelled 11 pressures of Mahomes on the night time, whereas the Bucs received to him 10 occasions of their triumph 4 years in the past, which prompted a significant overhaul of the offensive line within the offseason.

They spent free company {dollars} on left guard Joe Thuney, traded draft picks to accumulate left sort out Orlando Brown Jr from the Baltimore Ravens, and chosen heart Creed Humphrey and proper guard Trey Smith within the 2021 NFL Draft.

It had the specified impact. Kansas Metropolis returned to the Tremendous Bowl two years later, in 2023, and would get the higher of the Eagles on that event, earlier than Brown vacated for the Cincinnati Bengals the next free company.

Nonetheless there was no derailing the Chiefs, with back-to-back championships clinched in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers final yr.

However, in 2024, acquainted failings crept in as Thuney was compelled out to left sort out and Jawaan Taylor struggled on the opposite facet of the road. Mahomes was hit 109 occasions in the course of the common season and sacked 47 occasions (together with the playoffs) – each document highs for his profession.

“The Chiefs have at all times been capable of keep forward of the sticks in that they have been in a position so as to add upgrades to their workforce time and time once more,” Schecter stated.

“They’re perhaps not the place they need to be proper now. However they are often comfy with who they have going forwards.

“They have been in 12 one-score video games [this season], and so they nonetheless managed to get right here. They only should make some little tweaks.”

Kansas Metropolis are definitely able to dipping into free company once more and bolstering their squad by way of the draft as soon as extra, simply as they did after that final Tremendous Bowl loss to Tampa Bay… the one distinction is that this time, there might be some important gamers – and one particularly – heading out by the exit on the identical time.

Travis Kelce set the Tremendous Bowl document for essentially the most profession receptions within the defeat to the Eagles – his 4 catches taking him to 39 and two previous Corridor of Famer Jerry Rice – however his future stays unclear.

Mahomes definitely hopes the 35-year-old tight finish will return for a twelfth full NFL season.

“I do know he nonetheless has love for the sport,” Mahomes stated. “He’ll get time to spend along with his household and make that call on his personal. He’ll be welcomed again right here with open arms.”

Kelce dismissed experiences of his impending retirement earlier within the week, saying: “It is moments like these that make me really feel like I may play this sport without end.”

“I really feel like I nonetheless have numerous good soccer left in me,” he added.

NFL Community Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Saturday that Kelce hasn’t made up his thoughts about retiring, whereas he wasn’t requested nor did he deal with his taking part in future following Kansas Metropolis’s Tremendous Bowl defeat.

His foremost takeaway from the loss was: “You do not lose dangerous with out all the pieces going dangerous.

“There have been numerous issues going flawed. You may’t simply say it was the O-line or something like that. I feel it was collected of all the pieces actually not going our approach right now.”

Requested what head coach Andy Reid advised the Chiefs after the sport, Kelce added: “You recognize, this may harm. Let it harm and work out methods to get higher.”

Kelce or not, that is one thing this Chiefs squad definitely have inside them.

Such is their constant observe document of success over Mahomes’ tenure at QB particularly, that bookmakers have already got them listed as favourites to win all of it in a yr’s time.

“I received on the bus after that sport [against the Giants]; I completely believed 100 per cent that we have been going to win and it was simply devastating,” Brady added. “I could not converse for the remainder of the night time.

“I simply bear in mind waking up the following morning and I assumed, ‘That is a nightmare, that sport did not occur, I used to be dreaming, we’ve not truly performed the sport but’.

“The fact of a loss on this sport is you do not ever recover from them. It is a troublesome feeling to have.

“However Patrick is the final word competitor. If there’s anyone that may rebound, it is Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, this organisation and what they’re constructed on.”