Patrick Mahomes, quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, suffered an ankle injury during his team’s AFC Divisional Round game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, he was able to return to the game and ultimately contribute to his team’s 27-20 victory by throwing a touchdown pass in the last moments of the game.
Mahomes was successful in 22 of 30 ball attempts, throwing for 195 yards and two touchdowns. The superstar’s numbers would be considered modest compared to them, but the fact that he played hurt for the entirety of the second half and missed the entire second quarter with an illness makes his stat line pretty outstanding.
After taking a hit from pass-rusher Arden Key late in the first quarter, Mahomes was forced to leave the game with an injury.
He remained in the game until the end of the first quarter, but after that he went to the locker room to rest.
According to a report by Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, X-rays that were taken of the star quarterback during the halftime break came back negative, but it appears that he suffered a high ankle sprain.
Mahomes did not let this deter him from returning for the second half, which began with the Chiefs holding a 17-10 lead. Earlier in the half, backup quarterback Chad Henne had led Kansas City on a touchdown drive that covered 98 yards and was topped off by Travis Kelce scoring his second touchdown of the game.
The tight end was the star of the show tonight with 14 receptions, 98 receiving yards, and two touchdowns, and ultimately, he and Mahomes lead Kansas City to the AFC Championship Game along with a tenacious defensive effort.
Mahomes’ fantastic 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, which culminated with Marquez Valdes-Scantling catching Mahomes’ one-legged toss for a six-yard touchdown, was a key factor in the Chiefs’ ability to seal the deal late in the game.
After the Jaguars had just cut the Kansas City advantage to 20-17 following Travis Etienne Jr.’s four-yard touchdown run, it was a big moment after the Jaguars had just taken the lead.
Despite Mahomes playing through an injury, the Chiefs came out on top and won the game. Jacksonville kicked a field goal in the last minute, but it was too little and too late as the Chiefs came out on top.
Following the game, Twitter acknowledged his efforts.