Patrick Mahomes is rolling into his eighth career showdown against a Lou Anarumo-coached defense this Sunday night, and believe it or not, his Chiefs are only 4-3 against the man. That’s a tight record for the guy who’s basically owned the league for years, right? This isn’t just any regular season game, it’s a battle against a coach Mahomes clearly has immense respect for, even with all the history between them.
The “Burrowhead” Game Lives Rent-Free in Everyone’s Heads
Before Anarumo landed in Indianapolis, he was the defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2019-2024, and let me tell you, those matchups were epic. We’re talking about the infamous 2022 AFC Championship Game, better known as “Burrowhead.” The Bengals were flying high back then, fresh off a Super Bowl appearance and having beaten the Chiefs in the previous AFC Championship at Arrowhead. That loss was probably one of the biggest collapses in the entire Patrick Mahomes era.
Of course, that kind of success got to some Bengals players’ heads. Defensive back Mike Hilton, bless his heart, actually called Arrowhead Stadium “Burrowhead,” a nod to their QB, Joe Burrow. Talk about lighting a fire! The Chiefs took that disrespect personally, beating the Bengals 23-20 to punch their ticket to their third Super Bowl appearance of the Mahomes era. And who could forget Travis Kelce’s iconic postgame mic drop? “Burrowhead, my ass!” Man, you just gotta love that stuff. Mahomes’ Chiefs have put up an average of 24.7 points per game against Anarumo’s defenses, but that 2022 game felt like so much more than numbers.
Colts Defense: Anomaly or the New Normal? Mahomes Isn’t Taking Chances
Now Anarumo is leading the Colts’ defense, and they’re coming off a Week 1 absolute shellacking. The Baltimore Ravens shredded them for over 500 yards of total offense, including a whopping 202 yards on the ground. Derrick Henry went off, gashing them for 144 yards and three touchdowns. Ouch. If you look at last season, the Colts ranked 31st in passing yards allowed, which is, well, not good. But get this, they actually finished seventh in the league in rushing yards allowed in 2025. So, the big question hanging over Sunday night is: was that Week 1 disaster just a fluke, or is that who the Colts defense is going to be this year?
Despite that rough start for Anarumo’s new squad, Mahomes isn’t sleeping on them for a second. The dude told reporters, “Coach (Lou) Anarumo is one of the best defensive coordinators I’ve went up against.” He added, “If you look at their defensive line, their safeties, their corners, they have really good football players or linebackers. And so, they’ll have a lot of pride, and they’ll come out with the right mentality.” Mahomes even praised Anarumo’s coaching style, saying he “tailors his scheme to the team” and “is not stuck in his ways of how he calls a game.” That’s high praise from the GOAT.
So, Sunday night isn’t just another game. It’s the latest chapter in a wild rivalry between one of the league’s best QBs and a DC he clearly respects, even after some of the wildest moments. Will the Colts defense show up like their 2025 self, or are they still reeling from that Week 1 beatdown? You know Mahomes and the Chiefs will be ready for whatever Anarumo throws at them.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Arrowhead Pride.
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