Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes has played in 122 combined regular-season and postseason games. You’d think with all of his accolades that he’s accomplished all there is to accomplish, yet he’s still managing career-first moments. This time, he did it with the help of his newest wide receiver, DeAndre Hopkins.
According to ESPN’s broadcast, Mahomes’ had never thrown a fourth-quarter touchdown pass during a tie game. Of course, the announcer Jinx was on. Just moments after showing that graphic with that stat, Mahomes threw a touchdown pass to Hopkins in Week 9’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The touchdown gave the Chiefs a 24-17 lead in the soggy showdown on “Monday Night Football.”
According to @ESPNNFL broadcast, that is the first time in his career Patrick Mahomes has thrown a fourth-quarter TD pass in a tie game.
His second scoring pass of the night to DeAndre Hopkins, still a high-level WR.
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) November 5, 2024
Now, the simple explanation for this could be that Mahomes has done so much winning during his career that he never has been in tie-game situations in the fourth quarter. What’s more impressive about it is that this touchdown came on the back of a 15-play, 78-yard drive after Mahomes reinjured his ankle.
There’s also something to be said about the performance from Hopkins during Week 9’s game. He has easily been the most reliable target for Mahomes on Monday night and it’s only his second game with Kansas City. Late into the fourth quarter, Hopkins had seven receptions on eight targets for 71 yards and two touchdowns. The Buccaneers would respond with a game-tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter to force overtime.
