At all of 23 years old, Patrick Mahomes is a precious, precocious phenomenon, a would-be savior to savor for Kansas City. His transcendent game and remarkable broader appeal give him the aura of a transformational presence for the Chiefs and their fans, who at least have fresh hope after nearly two generations of postseason misery have left many feeling either cursed, generally condemned or simply cynical.
Mahomes Mania began bubbling early in the season after he threw 10 touchdown passes by any number of means through two starts; near-hysteria prevails now after a regular season in which he became the most valuable player in the NFL (whether he’s voted into that award or not) by throwing for more than 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns, tying for the second-most in a single season in NFL history and 20 more than the previous franchise record.