Patrick Mahomes and the Struggles of the Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes is often regarded as one of the premier quarterbacks in football history. He’s likely heading for the Hall of Fame and has been instrumental in the Kansas City Chiefs’ rise to prominence. However, despite his talent, he appears unable to change the course for a team facing tough odds. With four games left, the Chiefs sit at 6-7, dangerously close to missing the playoffs.
The recent 20-10 defeat against the Houston Texans didn’t seal their fate, but it painted a grim picture. The Chiefs’ run of nine consecutive AFC West titles is now at an end, and the playoffs seem increasingly out of reach.
A reporter from The Athletic provided a bleak statistic: the Chiefs currently have only a 16% chance of being one of the top seven teams in the AFC. This contrasts sharply with nine other teams that have better playoff odds than this three-time AFC champion.
Even if they somehow manage to qualify, their chances of progressing in the postseason stand at just 53%. The struggles of Mahomes and the team became glaringly evident during their last game.
In what was perhaps the worst game of his career, Mahomes faced a formidable defense and completed merely 14 of 33 passes for 160 yards, without any touchdowns and three interceptions. Though he rushed for 59 yards—averaging a commendable 8.4 yards per carry—his overall performance was disappointing, with a negative expected points added (EPA) per play. Unfortunately, stats like these have become common for him this season.
This year, Mahomes is completing just 63.1% of his passes, a personal low, along with 22 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His performance has weakened further since November, during which he recorded more interceptions than touchdowns and a completion rate of only 57.3%. The Chiefs are 1-4 during that time, with only a single win against a struggling Colts team.
Of course, football is intricate, and it’s essential to understand that Mahomes isn’t solely responsible for Kansas City’s challenges. In fact, Sunday’s game showcased various issues.
For instance, left tackle Wanya Morris was injured on the first play, leaving the team with limited options up front. The running game struggled considerably, relying largely on Mahomes scrambling. While Travis Kelce was out there, he couldn’t make the sort of impact everyone hoped for.
All of this combined makes for a disjointed offensive team that leaves Mahomes unable to cover up those weaknesses, especially against a top-tier defense like Houston.
So, where do the Chiefs turn now?
Next week, they face off against the 8-4 Chargers in a must-win at Arrowhead Stadium. If they lose, their playoff ambitions will essentially evaporate. If they win, they’ll still have the Titans, Broncos, and Raiders ahead of them. The schedule isn’t overly daunting, though facing the Broncos, even at home, could prove tricky.
“I know the chances are dwindling,” Mahomes remarked after the game, “but I’m confident the guys will give their all for every chance they get.”
He added, “We may not be winning, but you can’t question our fight in this locker room. We may not have made the plays when it mattered, but that spirit will show as we push through these last few weeks.”
Yet, at the end of the day, results tell the story, and this season has been lacking on that front for Kansas City.
To have any shot at the playoffs, the Chiefs will need to make significant changes. This won’t be easy, even for a player like Mahomes, who has a long history of turning dire situations around.
