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Henry McKenna
NFL Reporter
The Kansas City Chiefs’ 5-0 start looks perfect. But their team is not. Their record doesn’t tell the story of the difficulties they’ve experienced to get there. They are, after all, underdogs heading to San Francisco to play the 3-3 49ers on Sunday.
Patrick Mahomes, in particular, has had as slow a start to any season in his career, with six touchdowns to six interceptions. His interception percentage (3.8) is the highest it has ever been in a single season. His air yards per attempt (6.78) are lower than they’ve ever been. His passer rating is the lowest it has ever been (since his rookie year, when he played just one game). His sack rate (5.33) is the highest. His yards per game is the lowest.
It’s the worst version of Mahomes that we’ve ever seen. And I’d argue it’s not just the stats. It’s the film, too, where Mahomes’ work underwhelms compared to the high standard he set for himself in previous seasons.
Why?
It’s complicated, obviously. The Chiefs haven’t established a starter at left tackle, where rookie Kingsley Suamataia lost his job to Wanya Morris. Tight end Travis Kelce has picked up his production in the past two games, but on the season, he has just 24 catches for 228 yards and zero touchdowns because he had virtually no production over the first three games. He’s had an uptick in targets over the past two games because Kansas City has dealt with injuries to receivers Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown and running back Isiah Pacheco.
But again, the Chiefs are somehow undefeated.
How? How in the freaking world?!
It’s the stuff of dynasties.
It’s the stuff that the New England Patriots used to do under Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.
“Bill always emphasized that football season starts after Thanksgiving. He would say that,” said Brian Hoyer, former Patriots quarterback and current analyst on NBC Sports Boston. “And so I think the whole point was to figure out who you were, be in…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/how-chiefs-excelling-one-specific-strategy-patriots-dynasty
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Publish date : 2024-10-17 19:35:53
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