Believe in Patrick Mahomes and the Cheifs
Patrick Mahomes II has a cannon for an arm where in 10 games he has already set the Kansas City Chiefs franchise record for touchdown passes in a single season, propelling the Chefs to a 9-1 record and the top seed in the AFC.
Mahomes was drafted out of Texas Tech when the Chiefs traded up to the tenth overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was a multi-sport star, playing baseball up until his junior year when he decided he would focus solely on football. Mahomes was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 37th round of the 2014 MLB Draft, but he did not sign. His senior year at Texas Tech in 2016, Mahomes threw for 5,052 yards, 41 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. He still wasn't the top rated QB in the draft as Mitchell Trubisky out of UNC was selected second overall by the Chicago Bears.
Mahomes sat behind Alex Smith in his rookie season until week 17 against the Denver Broncos, with the Chiefs having already clinched a playoff spot. Mahomes completed 22 of 35 passes for 284 yards with an interception in the 27-24 win. Smith would start the Chiefs playoff game loss against the Tennessee Titans and would be traded to the Washington Redskins in the offseason, making Mahomes the Chiefs new man.
Mahomes is an MVP candidate through ten weeks of the season, but at 9-1 the Chiefs have seen a fast start turn ugly too many times before. Last season Kansas City started off 5-0 but then lost six of the next seven games. They won four straight to sneak into the playoffs at 10-6 before losing in the wild card round to the Titans. In 2014 the Chiefs finished the season on a 2-4 stretch and missed the playoffs after starting 7-3. In 2013 they started off 9-0 but finished the season 2-5.
The Chiefs have one playoff victory since 1993 which was in 2015 against the Houston Texans on wild card weekend. The one time they had a slow start, it actually worked out better. The 2015 Chiefs started the season 1-5 but won a franchise record 10 straight games. They were the first team since the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals to start the season 1–5 and make the playoffs.
This year could be different simply because of Mahomes. Mahomes lead the NFL in touchdown passes (31) which is five more than second place Andrew Luck. Mahomes is also first in the NFL in passing yards (3,150).
Everybody was raving over the QB class of the 2018 draft. Yes, Mahomes isn't a rookie but before this season he only played one game, close enough. Mahomes has put up numbers way beyond first round rookies Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and Josh Rosen.
Baker Mayfield is 25th in the NFL with 1,984 passing yards. Sam Darnold has 1,943 which is 26th. Josh Rosen is 29th with 1,280.
With touchdowns this time, Baker Mayfield has 13 which is 19th in the league. Sam Darnold is 22nd with 11, and Josh Rosen has six for 31st in the league.
Let's also look at Mitchell Trubiski who was the only QB selected in front of Mahomes. He is having a phenomenal second season with the first place Bears. He is 9th in the NFL in touchdowns with 19 and has 2,304 passing yards for 18th in the league. His rookie campaign he had 2,193 passing yards and seven touchdowns. Mahomes has already way surpassed Trubiski with 24 more touchdowns and nearly 1000 more passing yards through 10 weeks.
Mahomes can utilize some of the most lethal weapons in the game on the offensive side of the ball. Mahomes can pass to WR Tyreek Hill who is sixth in the league in yards (891) and second in touchdown receptions (9). He also has Travis Kelce at TE, WR Sammy Watkins, and RB Kareem Hunt who in 2017 lead the NFL in rushing yards, and is currently second in the NFL in rushing touchdowns (9).
So yes, the 2018 QB draft class along with Tribiski do not have the offensive weapons that Mahmomes does. However, that should not take away from the spectacular season Mahomes is having. If you double any of the rookie QB stats, they still would not match up to Pat's numbers this season. With six games left to go they still might not even come close to what Mahomes has done through only 10 games.
Mahomes is the man to lead this Chiefs team to their first super bowl since 1970. The late season collapses must end, and their first test is going to be Monday night on the road against the 9-1 Los Angeles Rams. That very well could a super bowl preview. So strap in everybody and watch Patrick Mahomes II change the fate of the Kansas City Chiefs for this season and many more years to come.
