Andy Reid Points at Patrick Mahomes’ Mistake as Chiefs HC Makes Feelings Clear on QB’s Run Game

For the first time since 2014, the Kansas City Chiefs are facing the possibility of starting the season 0-2. Their 20-17 defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles wasn’t just about missed opportunities—it was a blunder on the biggest stage. A dropped pass from Travis Kelce turned into an interception, shifting the momentum at a crucial moment. Head coach Andy Reid didn’t hold back in his post-game comments, pointing to Patrick Mahomes’ decision-making as the pivotal moment.

Reid acknowledged that the Chiefs’ struggles on third down were due to throwing too often in situations that required more control. “We’ve been throwing the ball in those situations,” he noted. “You want to keep them manageable. You’ve got to connect on those passes when it counts. We need to put them in better positions.” That one misthrow, which Mahomes admitted he let go a little too early, defined the evening and highlighted Kansas City’s weaknesses.

The interception overshadowed Mahomes’ moments of brilliance, like a stunning 49-yard pass to Tyquan Thornton. It also highlighted Reid’s worry: the quarterback is leaning too heavily on improvisation. Mahomes currently leads all NFL quarterbacks in rushing yards over the first two games. While he’s effective in spurts, this stat reveals an offense that’s struggling to find its rhythm. Reid expressed concern about the hits his star player is taking. “I don’t like him taking big hits, but he’s a competitive kid,” he remarked.

But Reid is not entirely ruling out the possibility of Mahomes employing his legs. He acknowledged that the quarterback’s instincts can make things happen, particularly when defenses underestimate him. But in the long term, Kansas City’s future rests on Mahomes’ arm, not his scrambling. With Rashee Rice suspended and Xavier Worthy out, the Chiefs’ passing attack has struggled, and there is a sense of urgency. However, Reid and the coaching staff insist that the answer is execution, rather than expecting their quarterback to simply run.

As the Giants gear up for “Sunday Night Football,” Kansas City finds itself at a crucial crossroads. Reid’s message is clear: protect Patrick Mahomes, fine-tune their execution, and find that balance again before the season slips away even further.

Patrick Mahomes’ biggest challenge yet: Defying the 0-2 curse

The confetti from last season’s Super Bowl has barely settled, and now Kansas City finds itself in a bit of a pickle. Just two weeks into the new season, the Chiefs are sitting at 0-2, and the record books don’t paint a pretty picture.

Since the merger in 1970, fewer than 12% of teams that start 0-2 have made it to the playoffs. Even with the expanded playoff format, those odds haven’t changed much. The Chiefs are trying to rewrite history from a tough spot. But let’s not forget, Patrick Mahomes isn’t your average quarterback, and Andy Reid isn’t just any coach. This team boasts three consecutive Super Bowl appearances, nine straight division titles, and the league’s most formidable passer. 

The recent history isn’t exactly encouraging. Since 2020, only five out of 43 teams that started 0-2 managed to claw their way back. Just three of those were returning playoff teams—the Rams, Ravens, and Bengals. However, Kansas City’s situation feels a bit different. Their two losses were by just one score, and while Mahomes is putting up numbers, a lot of it is coming from his legs. With 123 rushing yards, he’s outpaced every other quarterback in the league. He’s taken on more than half of the Chiefs’ rushing game himself, highlighting both his talent and the offense’s struggles.

Yet, there’s a flicker of hope in history. Three teams, the ’93 Cowboys, ’01 Patriots, and ’07 Giants, all started 0-2 and ended up lifting the Lombardi Trophy. Each of those stories became legendary. Mahomes and the Chiefs could still follow that path, but they need to find solutions quickly.

The landscape of the AFC West has changed. The Chargers have suddenly become the favorites, leaving Kansas City as an underdog to win the division. That’s a position they haven’t found themselves in since 2018, Patrick Mahomes’ first year as a starter.

Now, the urgency of the season is palpable. The Chiefs need to find their balance, protect their star player, and turn things around. The odds may be stacked against them, but in Kansas City, history has a way of bending.