Chiefs’ Mahomes is facing criticism after a rough time
Patrick Mahomes has always been the solution to whatever problems ail the Kansas City Chiefs.
The defense giving up gobs of yards and too many points to their opponent? Mahomes can outscore them.
Special teams is making blunders and causing poor field position? Mahomes can overcome it.
Wide receivers can’t get open? Mahomes can sling the ball so hard and so accurately that it doesn’t matter.
Yet midway through the most trying season of Mahomes’ professional career, and with the Chiefs fortunate to be in the hunt for an AFC West title that seems like their birthright, the question critics are beginning to ask is unthinkable: Has their half-billion dollar quarterback become the problem rather than the solution?
“There’s a challenge that we didn’t start the season the way we wanted to. But I think these last few weeks, we’ve shown we can win different ways,” Mahomes said. “The defense is playing good, special teams is playing good, and we’re doing enough as an offense right now. That comes with the adversity we’ve kind of gone through these last few seasons.”
What isn’t up for debate is that Mahomes is in the most prolonged slump of his career.
He is completing 65.2% of his passes for 2,534 with 20 touchdown throws and 10 interceptions for a 92.9 rating. All those numbers are the lowest through the first nine games of Mahomes’ career — except for picks, which is ticking upward.
Last week’s game, a 13-7 defense-led victory over Green Bay, proved a perfect example. With the Packers playing the heavy Cover-2 defense that teams are using to take away deep shots to Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, the Chiefs managed 166 yards through the air — the fewest of Mahomes’ career in a game he’s completed — and 237 yards of total offense.
Mahomes was 0 for 5 on deep passes, too, and the Chiefs went three-and-out four times after their opening TD drive. PANTHERS, NEWTON ARE BACK TOGETHER » The Carolina Panthers have agreed to a one-year contract to bring back quarterback Cam Newton to the franchise that drafted him No. 1 overall in 2011.
Carolina was light on quarterbacks after starter Sam Darnold suffered an incomplete fracture of his shoulder blade in last week’s 24-6 loss to the New England Patriots.
Panthers coach Matt Rhule said Wednesday that P.J. Walker is expected to start on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Matt Barkley, signed off the Tennessee Titans practice squad, is slated to be his backup.
It’s unclear if Newton’s return will change that.
He spent nine seasons with the Panthers, throwing for 29,041 yards with 182 touchdown passes and 111 interceptions. BROWNS HOPE CHUBB IS BACK BY SUNDAY » The Browns remain hopeful star running back Nick Chubb will play this week at New England despite testing positive for COVID-19.
Chubb must be symptom free and twice test negative 24 hours apart to be eligible to play Sunday against the Patriots.