We’re used to seeing Patrick Mahomes pull off the incredible in clutch moments in the postseason. The Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback has become the face of the league expressly because of what he does in January.
We’re definitely not used to what happened in the third quarter of the AFC title game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
As the Chiefs tried to pull away for good over their conference rival, Mahomes dropped back to pass on what seemed to be a routine pass play. Except when the superstar winded up to pass — with no pressure in his face whatsoever, mind you — he lost total control of the ball.
In the ensuing scrum, the Bengals gained possession of the fumble and made it seem like they put some kind of curse on the NFL’s best QB:
How in the what!?!?!? First fumble Patrick Mahomes has ever lost in a playoff game is thispic.twitter.com/MO8EB4acuW
— John Breech (@johnbreech) January 30, 2023
While playing on a high-ankle sprain, Mahomes was turning in quite an impressive performance by most standards. Not that anyone expected less from such a talented player. But to let go of the ball in such an unforced manner — in that important situation — is something Mahomes might come to regret should the Chiefs fall short of another Super Bowl.
NFL fans were so perplexed by Mahomes' weird unforced fumble
Huge turnover for Cincy, what a weird looking fumble by Mahomes pic.twitter.com/HdU2MjPw3v
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 30, 2023
I am going to lose my mind https://t.co/gKuwUPLL4m
— Collin Reischman (@CMReischman) January 30, 2023
Are there nerves that travel from your ankle up to your hands lol https://t.co/D7yavqkaJx
— Jacob (@Jake9730) January 30, 2023
— James (@JamesLujan28) January 30, 2023
Some rational part of me understands what happened on that Mahomes fumble and the rest of me is still extremely confused.
The game is just moving on from that? I think we need another halftime. What happened again?
— Ben Gretch (@YardsPerGretch) January 30, 2023
A very un-Mahomes-like fumble. 🫣 pic.twitter.com/ke2suUcpkR
— Sportsbook Review (@SBRReview) January 30, 2023
The Mahomes fumble was the NFL version of this pic.twitter.com/jCFwymjy5W
— Sosa Kremenjas (@QBsMVP) January 30, 2023
Patrick Mahomes looking at the guy that made him fumble at the Chiefs and the Bengals game: pic.twitter.com/qqoYuw5uIr
— In My Mind (@MeAloneInMyMind) January 30, 2023
@ESPNStatsInfo: That was Patrick Mahomes first career lost fumble in the postseason. He had 8 prior fumbles in the postseason but the #Chiefs recovered all of them.
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) January 30, 2023
Mahomes’s self-inflicted fumble has the feeling of a game-changer 😭
— Berny Belvedere (@bernybelvedere) January 30, 2023
Wow. Mahomes has never had a fumble in post season before that.
— Al Bernstein (@AlBernstein) January 30, 2023
