The Kansas City Chiefs have opened the 2024 season with an impressive 5-0 record, yet one startling statistic has caught the attention of NFL fans: Patrick Mahomes is experiencing the worst statistical start of his career.
Mahomes finds a way to win despite low performance
Despite leading his team to victory in each of their first five games, Mahomes’ numbers on the field have been unexpectedly underwhelming.
Through five weeks, Mahomes is averaging just 247 passing yards per game-his lowest since becoming the Chiefs’ starter in 2018.
He’s thrown six touchdowns to match an alarming six interceptions, which places him on pace for a career-low 20 touchdowns and a career-high 20 interceptions.
This marks a significant drop from the standard Mahomes has set for himself, and it’s raising questions about his performance, even as his team continues to dominate the scoreboard.
Mahomes is also being pressured more frequently, with a sack rate of 5.33%-the highest of his career.
If the trend continues, he could face a career-high 31 sacks this season.
His passer rating currently sits at 88.9, far below the triple-digit ratings he has posted in previous years.
Additionally, Mahomes ranks last in the league in average depth of target at just 5.4 yards, further indicating that the Chiefs’ offense isn’t operating at full capacity.
Mahomes: We win in different ways
Despite these troubling figures, the Chiefs have found ways to win.
Mahomes acknowledged that much of their success is being fueled by a defensive unit that has consistently stepped up.
“We’ve won different ways,” Mahomes said after the Chiefs’ most recent win.
“At the end of the day, our defense is playing their tail off, and I think people are starting to come to realize that even more, even when we’re getting these field goals (that) are keeping us in these games.”
The Chiefs have indeed relied on a strong defense to keep opponents in check.
Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s squad has delivered game-changing performances that have masked some of the offense’s inefficiencies, particularly in the red zone.
Mahomes noted the importance of turning their field-goal opportunities into touchdowns if they want to remain dominant.
“Offensively, we had a better day today-a lot of yards.
Now, it’s about finding ways to finish with touchdowns in the red zone so we can make these leaps bigger (and) faster,”Mahomes explained.
“I think if we can do that, then we’ll continue to get better and better.”
Kansas City’s undefeated start is their first since 2018, and the team has historically made the playoffs each of the four previous times they opened 5-0.
Still, the concern lingers over Mahomes’ ability to return to his usual level of efficiency.
The quarterback is widely regarded as one of the NFL’s greatest players, but his drop in production this season has left some wondering if the team’s current trajectory can be sustained.
