Nov 27, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass during the first half against the Los Angeles Rams at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports.
Kansas City Chiefs signal-caller Patrick Mahomes is the gold standard in the NFL right now — and probably will be for the next 10+ years.
His team just won its second Super Bowl in four years last season, topping the Philadelphia Eagles in a thriller down in Phoenix at Super Bowl LVII.
But Mahomes should have the Minnesota Vikings in bold print on his bingo card. Why? Well, heading into 2023, the Vikings are the only team he has not beaten.
It’s goofy but true. The Chiefs and Vikings squared off in 2019, but Mahomes was injured. Kansas City still won, but Mahomes was sidelined, and Matt Moore guided the ship over Minnesota to a 26-23 victory.
This is mostly a they-only-play-every-four-years statistic, with Mahomes’ injury stifling the impeccable mark. And, of course, Mahomes hasn’t defeated the Chiefs yet, but that’s only because he may never play them as an opponent.
Mahomes and the Chiefs toppled the Seattle Seahawks on Christmas Eve last December, marking wins by Mahomes-led teams over all NFL squads — except the Vikings. And wouldn’t you know it? Mahomes can nudge his supremacy even higher because Kansas City and Minnesota play this year on October 8th. The reigning league MVP has never played a game at U.S. Bank Stadium, nor have the Chiefs ever played at the Glass Palace. In 2023, the Chiefs and their rival, the Los Angeles Chargers, will become the final two teams to play at the Vikings house.
Kansas City also has the top Super Bowl odds for 2023 at the moment — why wouldn’t they? — holding a +650 moneyline to win the chip next February. The Vikings have +4000 Super Bowl odds per sportsbooks.
On the Vikings side of things, if quarterback Kirk Cousins had a similar bingo card, the Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals are the only teams he hasn’t defeated amid his 11-year career. Cousins’ claim to fame in this regard is a longevity and durability stat — intermixed with decent QB play — whereas Mahomes’ feat of beating every team since becoming a starter in 2018 indicates sheer dominance. Still, at U.S. Bank Stadium in October, something’s gotta give — either Cousins is one team away from ‘beating them all,’ or Mahomes crosses every non-Chiefs organization off his Most Wanted List.
The Vikings are 3-5 (.375) against the Chiefs in the last 30 years.
Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Brett Favre, and Peyton Manning are the only quarterbacks in NFL history to own wins over every team.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.