Mahomes: 'I didn't play to my standard'
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes shouldered the blame for the Kansas City Chiefs' 40-22 loss in Super Bowl LIX.
Mahomes accounted for three turnovers on the evening, including an interception that Philadelphia Eagles rookie Cooper DeJean returned for a touchdown.
"I thought our team played very well," Mahomes said, per KSHB 41. "I feel like I didn't play to my standard. ... There's things that I have to get better at, and they kind of showed today on the biggest stage. I'm about to find a way this offseason to combat what defenses are doing to me, as far as rush lanes and different coverages that they're playing.
"That's the beauty of football, you can never be satisfied with going out there and playing and thinking you're going to have success year in and year out. These defenses are going to continue to get better and better. And so I have to get better. I'll take a lot of ownership of that and hopefully come back and play better football next season."
Mahomes wasn't blitzed on any of his 42 dropbacks, becoming the sixth quarterback in Super Bowl history to not face a blitz, according to ESPN's Seth Walder. Still, Philadelphia's defense put Mahomes under pressure all game, with the QB taking six sacks.
"Credit to the Eagles, they played better than us from start to finish," Mahomes said, according to Fox Sports' Greg Auman. "We didn't start how we wanted to. Obviously the turnovers hurt. I just got to take all the blame for that. Those early turnovers swing the momentum of the game."
Kansas City was shut out in the first half before finally drumming up 22 points in the second. The two-time NFL MVP finished the game completing 21 of 32 pass attempts for 257 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Mahomes said Sunday's defeat will stick with him, similar to when the Chiefs lost Super Bowl LV to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"They both sucked," he said, according to ESPN's Adam Teicher. "These will be the two losses that motivate me the rest of my career."
While the three-time Super Bowl MVP placed the blame squarely on his shoulders, his teammates and coaches defended their star quarterback.
"He's human. ... They converted on all our mistakes," receiver DeAndre Hopkins said, according to Fox Sports' Henry Mckenna.
"Today was a tough day, in all phases. We didn't coach good enough," head coach Andy Reid added, per the Kansas City Star's Sam McDowell.