IDuring this year’s divisional round, Patrick Mahomes was asked a question he’d never faced in the playoffs before: Can you win on the road? Traveling to upstate New York to face a strong Buffalo Bills team will be a huge test for Kansas City. It’s uncharted territory and the opponent is Josh Allen’s biggest enemy, a quarterback desperate to turn things around after two disastrous playoff losses over the past few seasons. This is Buffalo’s era, they have a great offense in Allen, and Mahomes ends up looking error-prone. Despite tough circumstances, the KC superstar remains the face of the franchise, but this season the keys are lent to a new trustee, a defender so reliable that he looks in the receiver’s direction One look can make a quarterback think twice.
Under the spotlight, the script completely flipped, and Mahomes launched a thrilling offensive tug-of-war with Allen step by step. After their stellar performance, Kansas City’s defense failed to deliver on their promise. The Bills led 24-20 in the final quarter, with hope for redemption. But Mahomes knew his defenders could stifle the Bills as he issued a rallying cry: “Y’all shut it down and we’re going to win this football game. We’re going to the AFC Championship game.”
Close it and then some. After Chiefs running back Isaiah Pacheco set up the victory with a leadoff run, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo had the tools to get the job done: his key man, Larius S. Ned. The defensive backs cut off Stefon Diggs from Allen as the quarterback failed on all four attempts to find his top target. A turnover, a punt and a stop at the KC 26-yard line set the scene for another fatal shot that missed wide to the right.
Call it revenge. In trying to take the lead, Allen had crossed the line. He forced Snead’s first touchdown as the closest defender since Week 15 of the 2022 season. Khalil Shakir’s 13-yard rocket – which the rookie somehow blocked despite having to reach to the sideline – must have stung. Snead was hugged, but couldn’t stop the throw at that speed and position: NextGen Stats showed Shakir had 0.3 yards of end zone to work with. It just emphasizes how good you have to be to beat Snead.
Mahomes’ career has been at a low point since September (only the 2019 QB had worse stats due to a dislocated knee and two games missed), which in turn has limited Travis Kelce’s Impact, Snead and other key defensive players have to power the Chiefs through every week. The Broncos’ first loss to the Denver Nuggets in 17 games didn’t happen because the Broncos’ defense was so good. Mahomes had a hell of a game — no touchdowns and two interceptions for the first time since the 2021 Super Bowl loss in a 24-9 loss. Spagnuolo, meanwhile, had a strong staff with six sacks of Russell Wilson, 10 hits and seven tackles for loss at quarterback, but ultimately lost.
Somehow, those numbers are even better than the four sacks, seven quarterback hits and five tackles for loss when the Chiefs beat the Broncos 19-8 at Arrowhead Stadium earlier this season. Another example of a defense dominating but Mahomes failing to get going. Nick Bolton and Justin Reed offer a pair of compelling draft picks, but Snead’s emergence stands out. Wilson struggled, as KC’s defense held him to fewer than 100 yards passing in a game for the first time since 2018.
Snead’s significant coverage contributions — such as his plays against Denver’s offense — are often overlooked. His play was rarely a highlight because smart passers simply refused to throw the ball in his direction. Denver’s receivers may also be wearing tight ends when the cornerbacks are on the field: None of Wilson’s 19 pass attempts were targeted by the Broncos being targeted by Snead. His suffocating influence doesn’t show up in the statistics, but it’s often decisive. He’s the worst bully to surround an offensive mind, as Miami Dolphins All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill found out when he was knocked to the icy turf at the line of scrimmage in the playoffs. Then Snead attempted a daring one-handed interception in the end zone, wresting the touchdown from Hill’s outstretched arms, a cold insult to the injury.
They have to work harder against the Chiefs when the quarterback’s first read is gobbled up. A relatively poor offense has not been an issue for Andy Reid this season, as he has been able to rely on the league’s best pass catchers to be ineffective on the other side of the ball. When KC traveled to Minnesota in Week 5, Justin Jefferson was averaging 135 yards per game and Snead allowed just two catches for 14 yards. He had similar performances against the league’s top teams throughout the regular season: Ja’Marr Chase 0 catches, 0 yards, Keenan Allen 0-0; Davante Adams 1-4; DJ Moore 1 -4; 1-6 Hill; AJ Brown 1-8; Calvin Ridley 2-32.
Win or lose, Snead is sublime. He needs to do the same on the road against the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game. Just like in Buffalo, Snead suffered. The turn to safety set up the game’s longest play, a 54-yard uppercut by Zay Flowers, and the Ravens threatened to pull off a late comeback. Four shows later, Snead rose from the canvas with a haymaker. Flowers was inches away from chasing his team back, but as he sprinted toward the end zone, Sneed’s iron fist hammers home, resulting in a fumble that crushed Baltimore’s chance. Snead capped an epic defensive effort as the Ravens’ outstanding defense overcame Kansas City.
In Las Vegas, the San Francisco 49ers were equipped with offensive weapons designed to tear away the Super Bowl title, but in Snead, the Chiefs had their answer.
