The team’s first loss of the season hasn’t depressed Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. After Sunday’s 30–21 loss to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs told reporters he would use the game’s result as a “spark” for motivation. “It’s a good football team, so there’s nothing to hang your head [about],” Mahomes, 29, said. “We feel like we can play better, so we will get back to work and try to use this as a spark so that we can be a better football team in the end.”.
As the second half of the season approaches, the signal-caller, who finished the day with 23 completions on 33 attempts for 196 yards and three touchdowns, remained upbeat about his team’s prospects. “I’m hoping that [losing] is a benefit. I’m not going to say I or we relaxed, but at the same time I feel like we were just coming away with these wins at the end of the game,” Mahomes said, referring to the team’s less-than-dominant play thus far, in which seven of their previous games this season were won by one score.
Travis Kelce with the postgame clap. He knows the real test comes in January. Allen is 4-1 vs Mahomes in the regular season, Mahomes is 3-0 vs Allen in the playoffs. #ChiefsKingdom @KCTV5 pic.twitter.com/hlqwA6SqmJ
— Jared Koller (@JaredKCTV5) November 18, 2024
He continued, “I think it’s going to spark us to have more urgency, especially at the start of football games, especially with the offense, and that comes from me turning the ball over on the first drive. It’s something you can’t do in big games like this.” Teammate Travis Kelce had a more subdued day with just two receptions for eight yards, while Mahomes recorded his 40th career regular season game with three or more touchdown passes.
The 35-year-old tight end was spotted applauding at the crowd after the game to acknowledge the Bills’ performance, in his defense he said “Josh and the Bills balled out, it was only fair to acknowledge them and also thank the fans for showing up despite the unfortunate outcome”.
“It’s going to take your best football to beat great football teams, and we didn’t play our best football today and they went out there and beat us,” he said. “That’s how it rolls in the NFL and so all due respect to them that’s going to be a good football team that we will probably see [in the playoffs]” Mahomes also added.
Mahomes had higher hopes of replicating the Miami Dolphins’ historic 1972 season, when they won every game. “The undefeated thing was cool,” he said. “But that’s not our ultimate goal.”
