Even Patrick Mahomes' helmet couldn't withstand the frigid temperatures at Arrowhead Stadium.
As Mahomes scrambled midway through the third quarter of Saturday's wild-card game, he collided with Dolphins safety DeShon Elliott near the end zone, breaking part of his helmet.
According to the Associated Press, Mahomes played the next two snaps in the same helmet, even though there was an obvious hole on the left side. This is probably due to the fact that both teams experienced temperatures of -4 degrees Celsius, making it the fourth coldest game in the game. Looking back at the history of the league, the Associated Press reported.
In the end, officials told him to get another helmet from the sideline to finish the drive (which Kansas City won 26-7, ending with a Harrison Butker field goal) and wear it for the rest of the game. forced me to do it.
“I walked into the huddle and everyone said to me, 'You know what?'” Mahomes told reporters after the game. According to The Athletic. “I couldn't get out of the game. That was definitely the first time.”
However, Mahomes told reporters he ran into a problem with his spare helmet because it “froze up” and he “couldn't put it on.”
Still, the officials did not force Mahomes to leave the game or call a timeout for the Chiefs after changing his helmet. NBC Rules Analyst Terry Macaulay Confused.
“The clock stopped on the equipment change. He should really go out or they'll take a timeout,” after broadcaster Jason Garrett joked that Macaulay was “furious” at the decision. , Macaulay said.
This was also unclear, but According to Sports IllustratedWhether or why Mahomes underwent a concussion test after the hit with Elliott, both helmets collided after Mahomes scrambled to set up a third-and-goal.
Mahomes completed 23 of 41 passes for 262 yards and one touchdown in the win. Meanwhile, the Chiefs' offense, which had struggled for much of the regular season, found a rhythm against the Dolphins' defense and never gave up.
If the Bills defeat the Steelers on Monday, Kansas City will face Buffalo in the first road playoff game of Mahomes' career in the divisional round, but if Pittsburgh wins, it will lock up a matchup with the Texans.
Houston defeated the Browns 45-14 in the other AFC Wild Card matchup on Saturday, with CJ Stroud throwing three touchdowns in his postseason debut.
