yells to fire up the crowd before a playoff game between the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 13, 2024. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

So impressed by Patrick Mahomes competitive fire at Texas Tech, former Kansas State Coach Bill Snyder sent him a personalized note. When he was the Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Coordinator, Eric Bieniemy called Mahomes a competitive (expletive).

Mahomes competitiveness is legendary.

Hell take any kind of slight like the Chicago Bears passing on him in the 2017 NFL Draft after telling him theyd pick him and use it as motivation. (He memorably counted to No. 10, where he was selected, after defeating them in 2019.)

So those noting Mahomes has never played in a true road playoff game in his 15 prior contests, almost suggesting hes had to benefit from an advantageous path, could add fuel to the fire.

For what its worth, Mahomes downplayed having extra incentive as he prepares to play the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round on Sunday night.

Im excited for it because, I mean, its one of the best environments in football, he said. Ive been lucky enough to play a lot of games at home at Arrowhead Stadium. It kind of just everythings fell that way. But now we get the great opportunity to go on the road.

Although it represents his first road playoff game, facing the Bills is nothing new for Mahomes.

This will be the seventh game between the Bills and Chiefs since the start of the 2020 season.

They have split the previous six, but the Chiefs have won both playoff games, including the memorable 42-36 contest in which the Chiefs sent the game into overtime on a remarkable field-goal drive with just 13 seconds left.

Weve played each other, Mahomes said, it seems like a hundred times over the last five years.

The last two meetings have been Bills wins at Arrowhead Stadium, but the Chiefs actually have a better record on the road (6-2) than at home this season.

Mahomes credits that record to Head Coach Andy Reid keeping everyone on an even keel.

Thats important on the road because it seems like one bad play is even magnified more, and a big play is magnified more, he said. Just staying with the process is something that Coach Reid preaches, and we do a great job of it.

Reids Chiefs have ended the Bills 2020 and 2021 seasons.

So perhaps there is added motivation for Josh Allen too.

Theres certainly added intrigue because it matches two of the NFLs best quarterbacks.

They also have similar contracts at least in terms of average annual value. Mahomes average ranks eighth in the NFL, averaging $45 million on his 10-year, $450 million deal, and Allens ranks ninth, averaging $43 million on his six-year, $258 million contract.

The similarly-paid quarterbacks are also friends.

In fact, they were teammates at Capital Ones The Match. Quarterbacks Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers defeated them, eking out the victory in the 12-hole, alternate shot, match play at the Wynn Golf Club in Paradise, Nev.

When you compete against your friends, you almost want to win even more because of it, Mahomes said. Josh is a great dude. I respect the way he plays football and just the guy that he is. But its like when two guys that are ultracompetitive that are friends off the field go up against each other; we obviously both want to win. We know we see each other in the offseason, and you want to have a little bit of those bragging rights.

Mahomes has faced his friend in the playoffs twice before, but Sundays game represents the first in Buffalo.

The Bills are a great challenge, Mahomes said. We understand that were going to have to play our best football to win the game especially at their place.

I have written for Packers.com, Pro Football Weekly, ESPN The Magazine, the Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World and Rivals.com. After graduating from Northwestern University, I interned for the Buffalo Bills, where my duties included bedchecks during training camp. I have worked for two NFL teams and covered the NFL Draft, the NFL International Series, the Super Bowl and everything in between. During my football playing days at Pembroke Hill (Mo.) School, I was known for my bad knees and even worse blocking. Born and raised in Kansas City, I now live in Chicago but still have Winsteads grease coursing through my veins. Follow me on Twitter @JFedotin

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Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Brings Extra Motivation To His First Playoff Game On The Road - Forbes