Patrick Mahomes is running out of patience, but he’s also counting down the days until a key weapon returns to the Kansas City offense. The Chiefs’ start to the season hasn’t been what anyone expected. Two wins, three losses, and a painful defeat against the Jacksonville Jaguars have left everyone wondering how this powerhouse team will bounce back.

And Mahomes knows the offense isn’t perfect, but improvement is coming. “We’re getting better. That’s all you can do. We got one more week,” he said, keeping it real. The quarterback is focused on getting better, refining the offense one week at a time.

And the real game-changer, wide receiver Rashee Rice, is inching closer to joining the lineup again. With Rice joining in Week 7, Mahomes is counting down the days for that boost. Mahomes isn’t hiding. He’s ready to fix the rough patches and lead Kansas City back on track.

Rice’s absence has been a significant dent in the Chiefs’ offense. The third-year receiver had been carving out a role as one of Mahomes’ trusted targets before his knee injury in 2024. That season-ending injury occurred in Week 4 when he collided with Mahomes. And then this suspension benched him much longer than anyone expected.

Because of this, the Chiefs haven’t seen Rice suit up for their team in over a year. And clearly miss his absence. Over his first 20 career games, Rice has 103 catches, 1,226 yards, and nine touchdowns. The offense looks more jittery without him. And Mahomes owns up to the mistakes made in the recent matchup against the Jaguars.

Patrick Mahomes reflects on costly mistakes

The Chiefs QB admitted his pick-six against the Jaguars was a killer, calling it a 14-point swing. He owns up: “We’re just not making winning plays in certain moments.” His words highlighted how these moments hurt them badly and turned out to be a game-changer.

In Monday night’s loss, Mahomes threw for 318 yards and a touchdown, running for another score. But his lone interception, returned 99 yards by linebacker Devin Lloyd, put the Chiefs in a hole they never fully climbed out of.

Even with a strong start and a narrow endgame battle, those crucial errors haunted Kansas City’s chances. “When we get in these high-leverage moments, we’ve got to execute at a high level, and that starts with me,” he admitted, showing some leader-level accountability.

It’s a raw moment where Mahomes doesn’t sugarcoat things. He’s held the highest standard for himself, and now it’s showing in how he talks through the rough patch. The Chiefs’ record stands at 2-3, a far cry from their dominant years, but Mahomes trusts the process. He sees where they need to improve to close out tight games, and he’s ready to lead the charge.