There's a Name for That

Until yesterday, if you’d asked me who’s the best quarterback in the NFL right now, my answer would’ve been Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs, hands down. This morning, I’m not so sure. Against the visiting Bengals in the AFC Championship game, a GOAT went full gunslinger. With Kansas City up 21-10 in the closing seconds of the first half, Mahomes had second and goal from the one with five seconds left. The smart call—or at least the Monday morning quarterback call—would’ve been to kick a field goal. Instead, Mahomes threw what might best be described as a Bears’ sideline bubble left to Tyreek Hill, who was stopped short of the goal line. A shoutout hear to KC head coach Andy Reid, generally acknowledged as the reigning sideline great/genius. You sent that play in for your quarterback? The Chiefs managed all of three points in the second half and overtime. Still, in the closing seconds of regulation Mahomes had his team on the verge of a winning touchdown at the five-yard line, only to get sacked on consecutive plays while looking for someone to throw the ball to. Then, in overtime, he threw deep only to be intercepted, setting up the Bengals’ winning field goal. So, off that performance, I’d rate Mahomes right up there with Rex Grossman, which is not the sort of comparison I’d ever be expecting to make. I’ll give the 26-year old credit, though. He admitted after the game, “When you’re up 21-3, you can’t lose it. I put that on myself.” Gunslingers aren’t typically that self-aware. Or maybe a GOAT just didn’t have it on a sunny Sunday, late-January afternoon in Kansas City. More and more, I think things play out according to fate. That could be true for gunslingers and GOATS alike.