Patrick Mahomes has been the gold standard at quarterback since entering the NFL, spending his rookie year learning behind Pro Bowl veteran Alex Smith before taking over the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense.
Coming off a season-ending knee injury, Mahomes has looked solid while still shaking off some of the rust. The good news for Kansas City? Its ground game has been rolling, taking some of the pressure off Mahomes to put the offense on his back through the air.
But there have been a few cracks in the armor we’re not used to seeing from No. 15. For years, Mahomes has made pressure look almost irrelevant. Now, like any quarterback coming back from a major injury, the pass rush appears to be affecting him a little more than it used to.
Mahomes’ Chiefs Look To Be A Reality Check vs. Raiders
Patrick Mahomes Is Back To Hunt the Raiders
The Las Veags Raiders haven’t exactly made life miserable for Mahomes since he took over at quarterback. But with No. 15 running the show, there’s one part of the Chiefs’ offense that hasn’t been nearly as pretty: the run game.
Through three weeks, Mahomes has completed 8 of 14 throws traveling at least 15 yards downfield for 231 yards, with all of those deep-ball completions coming over the past two games. Overall, he’s gone 67-of-98 for 812 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions.
That production has helped Mahomes post a 108.9 passer rating while the Chiefs sit second in the NFL with 416.3 yards per game. Kansas City is also averaging 29.3 points per contest after knocking off Denver, Indianapolis, and Miami to open the season.
A big reason those explosive plays have been there? Play-action.
The Chiefs have been able to marry the run threat with Mahomes’ arm, and that starts with Kenneth Walker III. The new addition has already racked up 442 scrimmage yards, forcing defenses to respect the ground game and opening up opportunities for Mahomes to attack deep.
Even better, Mahomes isn’t relying on just one target to make those splash plays. He’s already connected on deep shots with three different weapons in Travis Kelce, Tyquan Thornton, and Rashee Rice.
That’s a much different setup from what Mahomes had to work with during the Chiefs’ frustrating 2025 campaign. Kansas City finally looks like it has an offense capable of winning in more than one way—and that could be exactly what Mahomes needs as he continues to work his way back to full strength.
Patrick Mahomes’ Deep Ball Is Back in Business
Mahomes took a major step forward in September, and the results speak for themselves. The Chiefs are 3-0 heading into Sunday’s showdown with the undefeated Raiders (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS), and Mahomes looks more comfortable with every snap.
His footwork has been cleaner, he’s been surgical off play-action, and he’s making plays outside the pocket without missing a beat.
Not bad for a quarterback who returned to the field just nine months after undergoing surgery to repair torn ACL and LCL ligaments in his left knee.
But if there’s one part of Mahomes’ game that has really popped, it’s the deep ball.
While Mahomes has been doing Mahomes things, Walker has been doing plenty of damage himself. Walker leads the NFL with 360 rushing yards and has four total touchdowns, earning him September’s AFC Offensive Player of the Month honor. He’s also just the second Chiefs player not named Mahomes to win a monthly award since 2017, joining Jerick McKinnon, who took home the honor in December 2022.
For Mahomes, having a bell-cow back like Walker—and a rookie blocker helping pave the way—is about as good as it gets. The Chiefs have found a rhythm on the ground, their protection has held up, and suddenly the offense looks far more balanced than it did a year ago.
Mahomes has also had plenty of praise for the talent Las Vegas has added this offseason. That’s nothing new for No. 15. He’ll happily hand out flowers during the week. Come Sunday, though, the nice-guy routine goes out the window.
Mahomes has a habit of turning into an assassin once the ball is snapped.
And with first place in the AFC West on the line, Kansas City and Las Vegas are playing for more than bragging rights. The winner leaves Allegiant Stadium at 4-0 and sitting alone atop the division.
Main Image: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
