Patrick Mahomes has played just five games this year, and already has thrown as many interceptions as he did all of last season (six). Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs received another reality check in Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills, falling to 2-3 on the season and last place in the AFC West.
The Chiefs have committed 11 turnovers in five games, tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the most in the NFL. Kansas City’s struggles are more than just turnovers, but the Chiefs only had three giveaways through five games last year.
Kansas City is still scoring points, but the interceptions from Mahomes are significantly up. Same with the passing yards and touchdowns. So why isn’t this Kansas City offense clicking like it usually is?
“It’s just we’re seeing different defenses that we’ve seen in the past,” Mahomes said after Sunday’s loss. “We have a lot of stuff, we read coverages and run routes to different spots and we’re just not on that same page. I have to trust in these guys that we’ll figure that out if that’s me knowing what they’re thinking and them knowing what I’m thinking and that’s what makes our offense so good.
“The guys are seeing coverages differently than I am. They’re different coverages — I don’t think anyone has faced coverages like we’ve faced over these last few games. Once we get on the same page and get that thing rolling, I think we’ll be back to where we’re at.”
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid mentioned the execution between Mahomes and the wide receivers are not on the same page, instead of a lack of communication. Dropped passes and miscues have led to three of Mahomes’ six interceptions this year, just some unfortunate bad luck.
The Chiefs are still averaging over 30 points per game.
“I think everything kind of comes back to the middle at the end of the day,” Mahomes said. “Hopefully if I’m unlucky at the beginning of the season, as we get to the end of the season, it kind of goes back the other way. I’ve been kind of a crazier player as far as scrambling and making throws, but in my career, I’ve never been someone to throw a lot of interceptions.
“I have to look at it now, I have to go back and evaluate what I’ve been doing. I have to cut it out at the end of the day. If you cut out those turnovers, it’s a different ballgame. I don’t know if we win, but it’s a different ballgame.”
