The 2023 NFL season has brought unexpected challenges for two-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes, raising questions about whether this is the worst season of his illustrious career.
While the Kansas City Chiefs sit comfortably at 8-3 and claim the 2nd seed in the AFC, the spotlight is on their atypical offensive struggles.
Surprisingly, it’s the defense that has propelled them forward, ranking second in the league for the fewest points conceded.
In their three losses, the Chiefs managed only 20, 9, and 17 points.
Even in victories, the offense has struggled, posting scores of 17, 19, 21, and 23 points – an anomaly in the Patrick Mahomes era.
Several factors may contribute to this drop in offensive production. The team’s exceptional defense might be shielding them from high-scoring shootouts, and the departure of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who served from 2018 to 2022, could be a factor.
However, the most noticeable issue has been the underwhelming performance of the wide receivers. Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney, and Mecole Hardman, all in their mid-20s, have made minimal impact.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling has struggled with drops, while rookie Rashee Rice, the most promising receiver, hasn’t played more than 68% of the snaps in any game.
Justin Watson, though making plays, hasn’t become a consistent threat feared by opposing defenses.
Examining Patrick Mahomes’ 2023 season statistics reveals a departure from his usual dominance.
With almost every metric indicating a decline, Mahomes is experiencing his least impressive season as a starter, excluding completion percentage and sack percentage.
Comparing his numbers over the past six seasons, including 2023:
2023: 5.1 TD%, 2.2 INT%, 7.1 AY/A, 49.6 Passing Success Rate, 96.3 Passer Rating
2022: 6.3 TD%, 1.9 INT%, 8.5 AY/A, 54.6 Passing Success Rate, 105.2 Passer Rating
2021: 5.6 TD%, 2.0 INT%, 7.6 AY/A, 53.2 Passing Success Rate, 98.5 Passer Rating
2020: 6.5 TD%, 1.0 INT%, 8.9 AY/A, 54.1 Passing Success Rate, 108.2 Passer Rating
2019: 5.4 TD%, 1.0 INT%, 8.9 AY/A, 50.9 Passing Success Rate, 105.3 Passer Rating
2018: 8.6 TD%, 2.1 INT%, 9.6 AY/A, 54.1 Passing Success Rate, 113.8 Passer Rating
Despite this statistical downturn, Patrick Mahomes remarkably sits second in NFL MVP odds.
Even in his worst season, he outshines the best performances of all but a few quarterbacks, a testament to his enduring greatness.