Patrick Mahomes had a subpar performance in the 2023/24 season when the Chiefs faced the Raiders on Christmas. The Chiefs committed two turnovers, allowed four sacks, and only managed to score 14 points.
Kansas City endured a relentless onslaught from Las Vegas for the entire 60 minutes, causing NFL fans, analysts, and casual observers to question the reigning Super Bowl champions’ status as contenders. Aidan O’Connell, with just nine completed passes for 62 yards, still emerged victorious from Arrowhead Stadium. It was an unsightly affair.
Antonio Pierce, the interim head coach following Josh McDaniels’ dismissal, intentionally crafted a game plan to exploit Patrick Mahomes and his team’s weaknesses. He drew inspiration from the Detroit Pistons’ tactics during the late 1980s and early 1990s, famously known as the ‘Jordan Rules,’ which enabled them to defeat the Chicago Bulls and win consecutive NBA titles. Coach Chuck Daly was the mastermind behind this strategy.
The approach involved forcing Michael Jordan, the superstar dual-threat quarterback equivalent in this context, to his weaker side and implementing double teams. Depending on Jordan’s position on the court, the defensive tactics varied. The objective was to limit his impact and make it difficult for him to score. Physicality was also a key component, with players instructed to make contact and be aggressive without crossing the line into dirty play.
Pierce adopted a similar mindset in his first game as head coach against the Chiefs. During an appearance on Maxx Crosby’s podcast, he referred to it as the ‘Patrick Mahomes rules’ and drew parallels to Jordan’s experiences. The aim was to mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually dominate Mahomes, just as the Pistons did to Jordan.
To instill a sense of aggression and determination in his team, Pierce showed them videos of boxing matches and UFC fights. The intention was to set the tone for the level of intensity he expected from his players.
In the case of Mahomes and the Chiefs, Pierce emphasized the need for a fighter’s mentality. The objective was to neutralize Mahomes, who wore the number 15 jersey and was associated with the color red, which Las Vegas harbored a strong disdain for.
Las Vegas’ defense executed the Mahomes Rules flawlessly, relentlessly targeting and hitting the eventual Super Bowl MVP throughout the entire game.
Their strategy proved to be highly successful, as Mahomes delivered his worst performance of the season, resulting in the Raiders stealing the victory from the reigning champions on Christmas.
According to the Source brobible.com