Real recognize real: Patrick Mahomes gives credit to Tom Brady, Buccaneers

Patrick Mahomes made no excuses for the Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss.

Beaten, battered and almost certainly bruised, Patrick Mahomes was not in the mood to make excuses after the Kansas City Chiefs missed the chance to repeat as Super Bowl champions.

Mahomes and the Chiefs failed to score a single touchdown in their 31-9 defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Seemingly limited by a turf toe injury on which he is reportedly set to have surgery, Mahomes was running for his life for much of the game as a swarming Bucs defense overwhelmed the Chiefs’ undermanned offensive line.

There were plenty who expressed grievances with what was seen as a friendly whistle for Brady and the Buccaneers in the first half. Mahomes, however, refused to place the blame for the Chiefs’ blowout loss on a third party.

Patrick Mahomes gave all the credit to the Buccaneers for their Super Bowl triumph

Instead, last season’s Super Bowl MVP was quick to heap praise on the player and the team that emphatically dethroned Kansas City.

Having suffered his first double-digit loss since college on the biggest stage in North American sports after a playoff campaign that has seen him battle through injury, it would be easy for Mahomes to deflect and find alternative reasons for the Chiefs’ failings.

The fact he did not do that shows admirable leadership akin to that of the quarterback who toppled him at Raymond James Stadium.

Sunday’s loss may well end any hope of Mahomes matching Brady for Super Bowl wins. Indeed, that six-title differential will be difficult to make up but, in terms of how he performs on the field and how he handles himself off it, Mahomes is already on par with where the greatest of all time was at the same stage of his immensely decorated career.