Football is a violent sport, but there’s a mental aspect to it that sometimes may go unnoticed. The sport is complex, with players needing to analyze schemes and personnel on a play-by-play basis. Add in the physical toll so many hits have on a player’s body, and it’s incredible how so many can perform at such a high level in the NFL Playoffs.
With all of that in mind, it makes what Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are doing truly astounding. The team is in the Super Bowl for the fifth time in the last six seasons, with some veterans having been there through every run. Mahomes has been the one leading the team at the most important position in the sport, and his performance against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game show why he’s been so successful.
Patrick Mahomes notches a 20.5 Whoop Strain during AFC Championship game
Will Ahmed, the founder and CEO of Whoop, revealed that Mahomes achieved a Strain of 20.5 during the AFC Championship game. He called it “intense”, while also mentioning 20.8 is the highest he’s ever seen.
Whoop is a wearable fitness tracker designed to monitor health and performance data. According to the company, Strain “quantifies the workload your body takes on”. It’s calculated by various factors. Anything over 18 up until 21 means “All Out”, signifying “significant stress, often overreaching“.
What does all of this mean? First, it’s awesome that Mahomes allows his level of workload stress to be captured and then publicized. It also means Mahomes was under a severe amount of pressure during the game, both mentally and physically.
The other players were going through it as well, but Mahomes needs to be focused more than anyone else due to being the quarterback. Despite those high levels of stress, Mahomes accounted for 288 yards and three total touchdowns. He’s back in the Super Bowl for a reason.
