Bo Nix, Patrick Mahomes and the value of pass protection

Watching the Chiefs struggle in the Super Bowl might have triggered some bad memories for more than a few Auburn fans.

QB Bo Nix (Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics)

Super Bowl Sunday became a good time to talk about Bo Nix.

At least, that was the case on a corner of Auburn Twitter. When Patrick Mahomes was running for his life in the Chiefs’ lopsided loss to the Buccaneers in Super Bowl 55, more than just a few Tigers fans tweeted about the Tigers’ young quarterback.

Mahomes had the first game of his post-high school career in which his offense didn’t score a single touchdown. (The fact that it happened on literally the biggest stage of football wasn’t great timing.) And while the former MVP didn’t post good stats — 26-of-49 for 270 yards and two interceptions — it didn’t help that he was constantly under pressure.

The Chiefs had a banged-up offensive line, while the Bucs had a swarming front four. The result was painful for Mahomes.