Chiefs AFC Championship loss still haunts Tyrann Mathieu

Former Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu left for his hometown New Orleans Saints, but is still haunted by KC’s defeat in the AFC Championship.

Chase put up video game numbers against Kansas City in the AFC Championship, as Kansas City’s secondary crumbled at the worst possible moment. Mathieu and Co. failed to stop his LSU bretheren.

By the end of Cincinnati’s 34-31 victory on the road to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in decades, Chase had 11 catches for 266 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Joe Burrow threw for 446 yards and four touchdowns. Legends were born that day at Arrowhead.

Mathieu considered Chase’s performance an embarrassment.

Chiefs: Tyrann Mathieu haunted by AFC Championship

The Chiefs won the Super Bowl in 2020, but since have come up just short in surprising fashion. Last year represented a marked failure by the front office to address secondary concerns. This offseason, they let their best secondary player walk in Mathieu. Who knows what lies ahead?

Patrick Mahomes is signed long-term, and to a record contract to boot. Winning is all that matters under this regime, especially with Andy Reid and Brett Veach leading the way. Losing Mathieu and Tyreek Hill in the same offseason is rough to say the least.

Recovering after losing to Cincinnati last January was tough enough. Mathieu is not alone in his feelings — it was deflating, especially considering just how close KC was to reaching the Super Bowl yet again.