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KC Star’s playoff edition:
Chiefs Extra
Good morning, Chiefs fans. Who’s excited for this Sunday? I know I am.
The Chiefs are playing host to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the second time in less than a month, but this one’s for keeps: The winner advances to the AFC Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs.
The Star’s sports desk has put together a special Red Friday section to get you prepped as the Chiefs head into the postseason and embark on a quest to advance to a third consecutive Super Bowl. Now let’s dive right in:
When Patrick Mahomes betrayed some fleeting moments of mortality earlier this season, you’d have thought this revolutionary star had burst just like a supernova.
No longer was he the guy who stoked them to their first championship in 50 years and back-to-back Super Bowls and 26 wins in 27 starts before that startling wipeout against Tampa Bay in Super Bowl LV.
At least that was what you’d see and hear if you were following along in the echoing panic room that is social media. Or tracking what people paid to make snap judgments and stir things up were selling.
Not that there wasn’t ample reason to be left gasping as the Chiefs were grasping to find themselves, especially when they had plummeted to 3-4 after that 27-3 clobbering at Tennessee. Their funk, and seemingly impending collapse, felt inexplicable.
And not that there wasn’t reason to wonder what was going awry with Mahomes: He had indeed looked off-kilter at times and was uncharacteristically interception-prone.
But none of that was happening in a vacuum.
Read more about Mahomes’ growth as this season has progressed from The Star’s Vahe Gregorian.
The game will kick off on Sunday at 7:15 p.m. and can be watched on NBC (Ch. 41).
The Chiefs struggled against deep shell defenses early in the season, but Mahomes — a self-described gunslinger — turned it around by combining his aggressive nature with some newfound patience. Chiefs reporter Sam McDowell explains why that bodes well for the playoffs.
There’s little doubt one of the biggest — if not the biggest — question marks entering the 2021 season fell on the Chiefs’ offensive line, which featured all-new starters. Here’s a look at how the new-look unit has arguably exceeded expectations this season.
AFC West champions? Check. Another postseason berth? Check. Another winning season ending with 12 or more wins? Double check. Despite a shaky start, the Chiefs have surged back to contender status. Let’s revisit our midseason grades when the Chiefs were still 5-4. A lot has changed since.
This year’s mix of AFC playoff teams appear to be a more difficult field than the past two years. Which team would give the Chiefs the most trouble? The Star’s Sam McDowell breaks it down.
Did you know the Steelers hold a 23-13 advantage over the Chiefs across their 36 previous matchups? Here are the five most memorable games between the two franchises.
And don’t forget to check out today’s eEdition.
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