Welcome to the Kermit the Frog Bowl.

We’ll call it that because Sunday’s game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs is exactly that, based on the history of ridicule on the part of the Raiders and the seriousness with which Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes takes that ridicule led to this game.

Here is the story:

For some reason, in July, Raiders players started mocking Mahomes for his Kermit the Frog voice.

Kermit the Frog taunt appears again

And, full transparency here, even Travis Kelce has sometimes made fun of his teammate for his voice. So it’s one thing.

But the Raiders do it? That’s another matter.

The background is a fan who brought a Kermit Frog doll to Raiders training camp. The thing was wearing a Chiefs jersey and had hair similar to Mahomes’.

And rookie defenseman Trey Taylor grabbed the dummy and began acting as an amateur ventriloquist.

At one point, Taylor says through the puppet in his best Kermit voice, “I’m a bitch,” and teammates can be heard in the background laughing and joking in agreement.

Kind of funny. But definitely immature, right?

September 22, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) in action against the Atlanta Falcons in the third quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory attribution: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Mahomes doesn’t laugh at Kermit joke

Well, Mahomes saw the clip on social media. (These guys see everything.)

And he didn’t seem to find it funny. At all.

“Things like this happen,” Mahomes said shortly afterward when asked by Kansas City reporters. “It will be handled when it is handled.”

The day of processing has come.

The Chiefs (6-0) are the only undefeated team in the NFL and will face the 2-5 Raiders on Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas.

The Raiders, as much as they have struggled over the last two seasons, remain the last team to beat the Chiefs, doing so on Christmas Day in 2023.

Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. (Getty Images)

“Chiefs take gaming seriously”

We should tell you now that both the Chiefs and Raiders were serious about the taunt after it happened.

“We don’t spend a lot of time on dolls here,” coach Andy Reid told CBS during training camp.

“We addressed it as a team yesterday,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said when he learned of the stunt a day later. “We nipped it in the bud.”

Yes, perhaps. Because the Raiders continue to talk about Mahomes like he’s just a regular guy.

“I don’t think anyone in this locker room is intimidated by him,” Raiders cornerback Jack Jones said this week.

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes battles against the San Francisco 49ers in overtime of Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

Mahomes and Hopkins are on the agenda

Mahomes was careful with his words this week.

He may be planning on giving the Las Vegas defense hell, but he’s smarter than saying the prank — or anything else the Raiders said about him — still resonates, and he wants revenge.

“I don’t know if you would say it resonates with me,” Mahomes said. “I think just knowing that the competitive spirit they have on this side will match the competitive spirit we have.”

“I think it will be an entertaining football game where we will get the best out of every single player on the football field and as I said, the best team will win.”

And, oh yes, there is football involved in the drama.

Today marks the first game for new Chiefs receiver DeAndre Hopkins after being traded from the Tennessee Titans earlier this week.

The Chiefs have a package of plays that they believe Hopkins has learned and are comfortable with Mahomes.