NFL fans have theory about Patrick Mahomes after below-par Super Bowl performance

Patrick Mahomes, the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, delivered a performance below his usual high standards in Super Bowl LIX, sparking speculation among fans that he may have sustained a concussion early on.

The Chiefs' dream of a historic three-peat were dashed as they fell 40-22 to the Philadelphia Eagles, despite a second-half rally from an initial 24-0 deficit.

Mahomes took a hard hit from Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter on the Chiefs' opening drive, with his head hitting the turf forcefully.

Mahomes quickly got up but seemed off his game, throwing two interceptions in the second quarter. His uncharacteristic lack of composure led fans to suspect a possible concussion.

"Mahomes looked concussed after the 1st sack. Somehow, doctors didn't see him stumble, then sacked again and pick 6. Hmm," one fan observed. Another remarked, "I have never seen Mahomes play like this, that early hit is making me wonder."

Throughout the Super Bowl, Mahomes was sacked six times and fumbled twice, managing to recover one but losing the other. He ended the game with 21 completions out of 31 attempts for 257 yards and three touchdowns.

Despite these stats, Mahomes acknowledged his subpar performance, expressing the deep disappointment of losing the championship: "Anytime you lose the Super Bowl, it's the worst feeling. It'll stick with you for the rest of your career. It hurt more than the wins feel good.

"It's going to hurt for a while, but how can you respond to it? I can't turn the ball over when it's not going our way. I have to learn from that and get better from that."

Mahomes hadn't finished reflecting on the performance as he offered an apology to Chiefs fans on Twitter with a heartfelt message: "Appreciate all the love and support from #ChiefsKingdom," Mahomes penned. "I let y'all down today. I'll always continue to work and try and learn and be better for it. Want to give thanks to God for every opportunity he has given me. We will be back."

Another noteworthy aspect of the game was the surprising underutilisation of tight end Travis Kelce, who left spectators puzzled with no catches in the first half, ending the game with only 39 yards.

Speculation is rife over Kelce’s career moves, with rumours brewing about potential retirement before the next season kicks off. Mahomes paid tribute to his teammate, saying: "He's given so much to this team and to the NFL," and pointed out Kelce’s enduring passion for the game: "And he's been such a joy, not only for me to work with, but for people to watch. He knows he still has a lot of football left in him."

Despite the sting of the loss, it's worth noting the Chiefs' record with Mahomes at the helm since 2018 stands firmly at 3-2 in championship games, equalling Tom Brady’s initial Super Bowl run.

This article originally appeared on Mirror US