Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes is the NFL MVP favorite. Here’s where he thinks he’s improved | The Athletic
In 2024, he would’ve looked for a checkdown pass here. Or perhaps to scramble to pick up whatever yards he could.
This time, however, Mahomes made it to his third read while buying time in the pocket.
And saw receiver Tyquan Thornton running free downfield.
“In previous years, I would have never even looked over there to Tyquan,” Mahomes said Wednesday, “because the coverage dictated that it was not going to be open.”
Instead of a minimal gain, Mahomes getting to Thornton resulted in a deep second-quarter pass — and a 34-yard completion.
It’s this sort of sequence, Mahomes says, that he’s worked so hard to create this year after some self-evaluation this past offseason.
The takeaway for Mahomes after that reflection? He was actually overanalyzing on too many plays.
Mahomes said last season, he was obsessed with playing the game perfectly before the snap. That meant if he saw the defense was about to play a certain way, he’d decide beforehand not to throw to specific routes.
“It’s like, ‘I know the coverage it is. I know this route’s not supposed to be open.’ So I would just move on,” Mahomes said. “I went back and watched the film this last year, and I was like, ‘I can’t give (defenses) too much credit.’”
NFL Week 8 Power Rankings: Colts jump, Commanders tumble | PFF
1. Kansas City Chiefs (No change)
Chance of making playoffs: 84%
Chance of winning Super Bowl: 13%
The Chiefs cruised to a 31-0 victory over the Raiders in their first early Sunday game of the season, securing their first regular-season shutout of the Andy Reid era. The win marked the return of Rashee Rice, who caught seven passes for 42 yards and two touchdowns, to the lineup. Rice’s availability is another positive sign for a Chiefs offense that continues to hark back to former iterations in previous weeks. The early-season rust is wearing off, and the Chiefs are third in EPA per play.
Fantasy playbook: NFL Week 8 Shadow Reports, lineup locks and projected scores | ESPN
Fantasy scoop: Worthy is in a bit of a slump since producing 121 yards in his return from injury in Week 4. In three games since that point, he’s totaled only 125 yards and one TD, failing to clear 11.1 points in any of the three outings. The 2024 first-round pick didn’t see much of a change in playing time with Rice back in the fold on Sunday, but his target share dipped to 12% — the lowest it has been in a full game since Week 9 of last season.
2025 NFL trade deadline: Which teams should buy, sell or hold ahead of Nov. 4 | CBS Sports
The Kansas City Chiefs are the betting favorite to win the...
