"It’s supposed to hurt": When Patrick Mahomes embraced Chiefs' AFC Championship defeat against Tom Brady's Patriots
Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady are two generation-defining quarterbacks, arguably the best of their respective eras. The two legends have met only six times, with Brady facing the dusk of his career while Mahomes was in the dawn of his.
However, when Mahomes-led Chiefs squared off against Brady-led Patriots for the second time, the Chiefs QB learned an important lesson in his life.
The Chiefs were up against the Patriots in the AFC Championship match. In one of the most intense matches of recent times, Mahomes was left devastated after a 37-31 defeat that crushed their dreams of their first Super Bowl appearance since 1970. Reflecting on the game and missed opportunity, Mahomes said:
“It hurts.” He further added, “You have to take in the hurt,” Mahomes said, philosophically. “You have to accept that this hurts. It’s supposed to hurt.”
Patrick Mahomes vs Tom Brady: A thrilling championship game
The 2019 AFC Championship Game between the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs was a thrilling showdown. Tom Brady’s Patriots controlled the game stats but needed every play to counter Patrick Mahomes’ fierce comeback.
New England took the lead with a touchdown at 3:32 left, but Mahomes quickly answered, making it 28-24 with just over two minutes remaining. Brady then drove the Patriots to another go-ahead touchdown with only 39 seconds left, appearing to secure the win.
However, Mahomes responded, setting up a game-tying field goal that forced overtime. In overtime, the Patriots won the coin toss, and Brady converted three third-and-10s, leading to Rex Burkhead’s game-winning touchdown. It silenced the Arrowhead Stadium, sending the Patriots to the Super Bowl.
Patrick Mahomes laments losing the coin toss
After the game, Brady passed through the NFL and Chiefs security guards, looking for a dejected Mahomes. He knew he hadn’t been perfect, with two picks, one in the end zone, and a few risky plays. But the legend understands there is little margin between victory and defeat. Brady said:
“A play here, a play there. But that’s football.”
Not to forget, the Patriots also won the crucial coin toss for OT. Ultimately, an experienced Brady executed a 75-yard drive to victory. Speaking about the factor of the coin toss, Mahomes said:
“It’s just how the coin tosses, I guess you would say.”
When asked what if they’d won the toss, Mahomes was confident they would have won. But Mahomes knows that football isn’t a game of ifs and buts.