The Kansas City Chiefs became the first team in NFL history to host four consecutive championship games. They were heavy favorites but blew a 21-3 lead in the AFC Championship to the Cincinnati Bengals. In doing so, the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes missed out on a chance at appearing in their third straight Super Bowl.

It was a tough loss for the organization, the fans, and particularly, Patrick Mahomes’ chances at one day becoming the greatest of all-time.

Here are the three reasons that this loss kills Mahomes’ odds of ever surpassing Tom Brady as the GOAT.

3 Reasons Patrick Mahomes Will Never Be The GOAT

PERFORMANCES IN KEY GAMES

Patrick Mahomes has mostly played extremely well during his playoff career. But in some of his absolute most important games, he has come up short. Not only has he lost, he has not played well in those games.

Obviously, the AFC Championship against the Bengals was not a shining moment for him. The offense was indestructible the first three drives, leading to touchdowns. They nearly had four. On the final play of the first half though, Mahomes completed a pass to Tyreek Hill in the flat. Hill was tackled in bounds at the 1-yard line. Mahomes is seen trying to call a timeout. He didn’t have any. He needs to know that. Even if he did, Mahomes probably would not have got it in time. Mahomes cannot throw that pass. That ball either goes into the end zone, or into the ground, allowing your kicker to attempt a field goal.

From that point on, Mahomes did not look like himself. He missed throws he normally makes. He threw two interceptions, both on him. He also fumbled and was lucky enough to have his lineman jump on it. Mahomes played very poorly, by anyone’s standards the rest of that game.

Mahomes and Brady both blew 21-3 AFC Championship leads. But Mahomes’ game went in the tank. Meanwhile, Brady continued to play at an unreal level that game against the Colts. Ultimately, he was bested by Peyton Manning 38-34.

But that’s not the only time we have seen that.

In his biggest win of his career, his only Super Bowl championship, he also played poorly. Mahomes struggled to get the offense going for much of the game against the San Francisco 49ers. He threw two interceptions in the second half of the Super Bowl, as the Chiefs fell further behind.

Admittedly, he made some great plays down the stretch. The Chiefs completed the comeback and Mahomes his only Super Bowl. But if someone looks at that game objectively, that should not have happened. Had 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan not got cute with his play calling leading by two scores, or if Jimmy Garoppolo hits an open Emmanuel Sanders, the 49ers likely win that game.

His other Super Bowl appearance last season was not nearly as much on him. He was running for his life all game. But he still got crushed in the Super Bowl.

HEAD TO HEAD VS. TOM BRADY

Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady have played against each other five times during their career. Three of those games were during the regular season. Brady won the first matchup, 43-40 in a shootout. Mahomes took the subsequent regular season matchups, 23-16 and 27-24.

But it is the two playoff matchups that will forever hurt his case to be the GOAT. Check out this stat entering last week’s loss to the Bengals.

In the AFC Championship a few years ago, Mahomes hosted the New England Patriots. Mahomes played spectacularly, as did Brady. The Chiefs nearly won. Ultimately, the game went to overtime. The Patriots won the coin toss. Brady marched the Patriots down the field, scored a touchdown and won the game.

Fans who complain Mahomes didn’t get a chance in OT only need to be reminded of Josh Allen getting that same snub a couple weeks ago.

Then they met in Super Bowl LV. As I referenced earlier, Mahomes actually did not play nearly as poorly as the score indicated. He made some amazing throws in that game. But he was constantly under pressure all game. Meanwhile, Brady had a clean pocket and picked the Chiefs apart. Brady and the Buccaneers won 31-9.

This part of the argument is not about how well Mahomes played. At the end of the day, it’s about winning. Brady ended Mahomes’ season twice. The reverse never happened.

Tom Brady has won seven Lombardi Trophies. The one time Mahomes had a shot at beating the GOAT in the Super Bowl, he was run off the field. Brady is now retired and there will never be another opportunity to get one back.

DEPTH AND YOUTH OF TALENT WITH AFC QUARTERBACKS

The biggest part of Brady’s legacy was winning. He appeared in 14 conference title games. He made 10 Super Bowl appearances, winning seven of them.

Brady was lucky enough to play in the AFC East for the vast majority of his career. The New York Jets and Buffalo Bills were mostly dumpster fires for much of his time there. The Miami Dolphins were decent every so often, but never a real threat.

Mahomes is not going to be that lucky.

In the AFC, he is going to have to deal with Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert. Every one of them are younger than he is. They are all franchise quarterbacks that are likely not going anywhere for the duration of their respective careers. Andy Reid even acknowledged as much.

Mahomes was already bested by Burrow. He has lost to Herbert and easily could have lost every time he has played against him. Jackson has beaten him. We already know Josh Allen is capable, a la the divisional round game.

Mahomes might end up being the best among these quarterbacks. But even that is not guaranteed. Appearing in 14 AFC title games, or 10 Super Bowls seems highly unlikely. Therefore, he cannot win as much as the GOAT.

If you don’t win as much as the GOAT, and the couple times you played him in the postseason you lost, you cannot ever surpass him.