Can Patrick Mahomes Continue to Dominate and Other NFL Playoff Questions?

After dominating the NFL for much of the season during his first year as a starter in the NFL, Patrick Mahomes will lead the Kansas City Chiefs into the playoffs for the first time.

The question is, can the second-year star continue to shine in the playoffs when the lights are brightest?

To help answer that query – as well as playoff-related queries for every team that qualified for pro football’s tournament – ESPN turned to an anonymous panel of NFL players and coaches.

While the panel was generally supportive of Mahomes, the issue of whether his lack of experience would come back to bite did come up.

“Anything can happen, but I guess experience does help in the playoffs,” said one respondent. “But he’s a gunslinger. He’ll hold his own.”

“I wouldn’t say his lack of experience [will hurt him],” said another. “I would say his wholesomeness of confidence will. In those big games, some of the things that he does, he makes some phenomenal plays. But at the same time, some of those risky plays and those throws that he makes, they’ll come back to bite him.”

Another quarterback who was mentioned in the piece was one whom some expect will be facing Mahomes in the AFC Championship, Tom Brady.

One respondent said he’d noticed some slippage in the 41-year-old’s game and reflected on whether that would hurt him in the postseason.

“He’s gotten hit a lot more,” the respondent said. “He’s not accustomed to that because he’s normally getting the ball out of his hands. Some of the things that are uncharacteristic of him he’s probably done a little more, as far as throwing the ball away or not being as accurate. But I’d also say his receivers, in a lot of cases, have probably dropped some balls. I think it’s more of a team thing right now, and they’re just not operating on that level of eliteness that you’re accustomed to seeing. There’s been a drop-off, numbers-wise. But he’s still putting the ball where it needs to be and on time. He can still spin the thing.”