Patrick Mahomes (Getty Images)
Mahomes helped Kansas City cruise past the Denver Broncos 31-10, then shared a heartfelt message with Chiefs Kingdom after the final whistle. The three-time Super Bowl champion completed 15 of 27 passes and threw two touchdown passes. Patrick Mahomes had waited nine long months for this moment. After battling through a serious knee injury and months of demanding rehabilitation, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback finally returned to an NFL game Monday night. The comeback could hardly have gone better. He also added a rushing touchdown as the Chiefs controlled the game from start to finish at Arrowhead Stadium.
“I just wanted to play,” Mahomes said. There were moments when the quarterback looked like a player still finding his rhythm. That was hardly surprising after spending months away from competitive football. What mattered most was that Mahomes looked healthy, confident and capable of making plays when Kansas City needed him. The bigger story, though, was what the game meant to Mahomes personally. “I’ve done so much rehab and so much work to put myself in this position. I just wanted to get out there and play. That’s what you do it for. “My guys around me kind of helped me. Whenever I felt like I didn’t play my best football, we were still able to go out there and beat a really good football team pretty well. For Mahomes, the post captured the journey behind his return. A knee injury can turn an NFL season upside down in an instant. The road back is far less glamorous, filled with rehabilitation sessions, strength work and countless hours spent preparing the body to withstand the demands of football again.