Ever since Patrick Mahomes took over the starting role for the Kansas City Chiefs, he's led the team to at least the AFC Championship in every season.
That is quite a run, but on Sunday, that gets put to the ultimate test. If the Chiefs lose, that means no playoffs in 2025.
Given that we haven't seen this team fight through this level of adversity before, there are experienced players who can help guide the team through what is no doubt an odd experience for the locker room, considering how successful they've been.
And for Mahomes, he's leaning on the Chiefs culture that has been built through all the years of winning in what is a dire time for the franchise.
"Yeah, you're going to have to, we’re in unprecedented territory,” Mahomes said. “It's a place that we haven't been since I've been here, you lean on the guys that have battled through adversity and came out better on the other side. That's Chris [Jones], Trav [Kelce], all these guys that have won championships.
"It hasn't always been pretty, but it'll really test us to see what type of character we are, and I think we got the guys in the room to do it.”
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Chiefs need leaders to step up in Week 15
What has been odd over the past five weeks is that it has been the Chiefs' star players who have let the team down.
Whether it be costly penalties that stall drives, or costly drops late in the fourth quarter that see the chance to win the game go by the wayside, we aren't used to seeing that.
So, against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, this is the time when Kansas City's leaders have to step up as they have done so many times before.
Kelce, Jones, Mahomes, and others all have to come to the party.
Otherwise, for the first time in the Mahomes era, Kansas City will be watching the postseason from the couch.
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