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There is no doubt that the Kansas City Chiefs have found their franchise quarterback in Patrick Mahomes, but his recent play has left something to be desired on the stat sheet. An uninspiring performance by the All-Pro signal-caller against Denver was one in a string of underwhelming starts, which haven’t been helped by the inability of his receivers to hang onto the ball in key situations.
Though he was gracious in his comments about the play of his supporting cast in comments to the media on Wednesday, Mahomes said that part of the team’s strategy in keeping guys confident is looking back their way after miscues.
“I’m going to go through the play regardless as to who is at what position and what the read is,” Mahomes explained. “Coach (Andy) Reid does a good job of kind of maneuvering it so we can get it back to them pretty quickly there.”
This strategy was put to the test against the Broncos. Mahomes went right back to Byron Pringle after he had dropped a pass. The second target resulted in a complete pass for a 14-yard gain.
Extrapolating further on the effect that interceptions and dropped passes have on his outlook in the passing game, Mahomes shrugged off any suggestion that the statistical mark against him was an issue, saying that it comes with the territory of playing quarterback in the NFL.
“I mean it just happens, it’s part of football,” Mahomes said. “Luckily enough, our defense is playing good enough that whenever they happen, they’re able to get stops and get turnovers or whatever it is and not let it impact the team. But you understand that turnovers are a huge part of this game. Our defense is getting a lot of turnovers and winning that turnover battle. I’ll try to limit them as much as possible, but at the same time I have to be me and continue to throw the football and give guys chances to make plays.”
Never one to blame a teammate for offensive struggles, Mahomes further expounded on how if he had put the ball right where it needed to be on the play he was intercepted against the Broncos, it would’ve changed the complexion of the box score.
“Like I said, some of the dropped passes – people get hung on them even the one in the game that got intercepted, if I throw the ball in a better spot and he makes the catch, probably splits and scores,” Mahomes said. “I threw it high and hard, and it gets tipped up and picked. People put it on him, but it’s really on me to make a better throw. For myself just try to make some better throws and let those guys have easier catches especially in traffic where they can make plays happen after the catch.”
Surely Kansas City’s receivers will find a solution to the endemic catching issues that have plagued the team in recent weeks. While Mahomes said all the right things in his media availability, his ability to impact the game is severely hampered when passes bounce off hands and onto the ground, or worse, the arms of a defender.
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