NFL Analysis
2/5/25
6 min read
How Patrick Mahomes’ Running Ability Makes Him a Super Bowl X-Factor
As Patrick Mahomes seeks to become the first three-peat Super Bowl-winning quarterback on Sunday, it’s clear he’s among the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
In his seven seasons as the Kansas City Chiefs’ starter, he’s been to five Super Bowls (including Sunday) with three victories. He’s a three-time Super Bowl MVP, a two-time NFL MVP, a six-time Pro Bowler, and has led the Chiefs to seven straight AFC West titles. He’ll be looking to improve on his 17-3 overall postseason record against the Philadelphia Eagles, the highest winning percentage by a quarterback who has played in 10 or more playoff games.
Mahomes’ passing and leadership skills are obvious. What's under the radar is his tremendous running ability, as he runs far less in the regular season than in the playoffs when there’s more at stake. He averaged only 3.6 rushes per game in the 2024 regular season but has cranked up his running, as usual, this postseason with seven carries against Houston in the divisional round, and 11 rushes in the AFC title win against Buffalo, including a 10-yard touchdown to take the lead, in the fourth quarter.
His scrambling is elite and among the best of all time among quarterbacks. Mahomes uses his speed, quick feet, and instincts on scrambles to, first and foremost, buy time to throw. However, he’s ready and willing to take off and run when necessary.
In his four previous Super Bowls, he had 23 carries (not including victory formation plays) for 196 yards (8.5 average), one touchdown, and 13 first downs. The Eagles defenders who faced Mahomes in the Super Bowl two years ago are keenly aware of his game-changing runs. His 26-yard scamper with 2:55 left to set up the winning field goal in that 38-35 victory when he played with a sprained ankle. He rushed for 44 yards on six attempts in that game, during which he also threw three touchdown passes with no turnovers.
Mahomes had nine runs for a team-leading 66 yards and five first downs in last year's Super Bowl win against the San Francisco 49ers. Included were critical runs on the winning drive in overtime of 8 yards on fourth-and-1 and 19 yards on third-and-1 while behind 22-19. These plays set up his 3-yard touchdown pass with six seconds left.
The running of both starting quarterbacks will be a major factor in Sunday’s game. Jalen Hurts’ rushes are expected and often scripted with play-action rollouts and his renowned Tush Push.
Mahomes’ running is more of an X-factor. He’s just as dangerous as Hurts on the ground, with his runs almost always coming on scrambles and off-schedule plays that are so difficult to defend. The Chiefs are 13-0 in one-score games this season, including the three-point win against the Bills two weeks ago, so chances are Sunday’s game will be decided late, and that’s when Mahomes is likely to use his legs with another championship on the line.
The Eagles' excellent defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, certainly emphasizes the importance of keeping the Chiefs' quarterback contained. He’s likely to utilize First-team All-Pro LB Zack Baun as a spy when Mahomes drops back.
Fangio made this statement last season on defending Mahomes.
“Try and hopefully limit the improvised play, making good throws on the run. He’s really tough. You’ve got to defend the play they call in the huddle, and then you’ve got to defend the play he calls when things break down.”
The Eagles defensive coordinator knows Mahomes will run a lot of those improvised plays.
Chiefs Coach Andy Reid has taught the 29-year-old Mahomes to slide to protect himself, but he’ll fight for the first down or to reach the end zone if necessary, especially at crunch time late in a playoff game or Super Bowl.
Mahomes has one of the highest pain thresholds among NFL quarterbacks. He regularly shakes off ankle injuries, which earns him the respect of teammates and opposing players around the league. He hasn't missed a start due to injury since 2019. He’s also benefited from the officials’ giving him the extra protection he’s earned as one of the NFL’s marquee players. That created controversy during two questionable roughing calls on the Texans against Mahomes in the divisional playoff game.
It's a fascinating matchup of Mahomes and the Chiefs' offense against the Eagles' top-ranked defense from the regular season. Philly’s pass rush and coverage have been effective in its three playoff games, with a total of 10 sacks, 22 passes defended, and four interceptions.
The Eagles bring depth on the defensive line and edge group, led by DT Jalen Carter and edge Nolan Smith Jr. (four postseason sacks to lead the team). Brandon Graham could return from injury this week to further bolster the pass rush.
This postseason, Mahomes was sacked three times by the Texans and twice by the Bills, so pass protection could be an issue against the Eagles.
He hasn’t had a dominant wide receiver since Tyreek Hill was traded to Miami in 2022, but after dealing with injuries at the position during the regular season, Mahomes now has Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy as a solid wide receiver pair (with vet WRs DeAndre Hopkins and JuJu Smith-Schuster also contributing) to go with Mahomes’ usual threat—Travis Kelce (13 catches for 174 yards in the last two Super Bowls combined). RBs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt are running it well enough.
Mahomes is also a smart player who knows he has a good defense (ninth-ranked this season after being No. 2 in 2023). Therefore, he is careful to avoid turnovers and hasn’t thrown an interception in his last eight games, including the playoff wins against Houston and Buffalo.
I learned my lesson last season when I picked against Mahomes in playoff games at Buffalo and Baltimore. So when the Eagles inevitably put the pressure on Mahomes, I look for him to scramble and complete passes or run for big plays.
His playmaking as a passer is a given, but his big-play ability as a runner in Super Bowls should be the difference maker on Sunday as the Chiefs and their star quarterback achieve the unprecedented three-peat.
