Fansided

NFL Divisional Round weekend: X-factors for each game

By Dylan Broady

KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 21: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts after defeating the Cincinnati Bengals on October 21, 2018 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 21: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts after defeating the Cincinnati Bengals on October 21, 2018 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – DECEMBER 30: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs in action during the game against the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – DECEMBER 30: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs in action during the game against the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs

X-FACTOR: Patrick Mahomes

Patrick Mahomes has been the very best quarterback, if not player, in the NFL this season. The biggest question for Mahomes is if he can erase his franchise’s 26 years of playoff misery. We haven’t seen the Chiefs win at home in the playoffs since 1993, when Hall Of Famer Joe Montana was at the helm.

Can Mahomes finally help the Chiefs break the playoff drought? More importantly, can he dodge the rookie playoff record from Wild Card weekend? Every first-year quarterback lost to a more experienced quarterback and team last weekend. Mahomes has been absolutely electric this season. Can he continue, along with his team, to push the narrative of high-scoring play?

Mahomes has had an extraordinary season, but we’ve yet to see him on this sort of stage. The pressure will only be greater due to the Chiefs history in the playoffs. All the pressure will be on him to deliver a huge win over a surging and experienced Colts team.

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