NFL analyst explains 'real reason' Patrick Mahomes' explosive deep passes aren't the same anymore
Patrick Mahomes' explosive passing plays have slowed down, says analyst.
Patrick Mahomes' explosive passing plays have slowed down, says analyst.
Patrick Mahomes' explosive passing plays have slowed down, says analyst.
Patrick Mahomes' explosive passing plays have slowed down, says analyst.
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The Kansas City Chiefs have remained a model of consistency in the
NFL
, but their offense no longer packs the same explosive punch it once did. Quarterback
Patrick Mahomes
, once feared for his deep-ball prowess and highlight-reel throws, has seen a noticeable decline in his long-range passing.
Even with two Super Bowl titles in the last three years and a 15-win regular season just behind them, it's clear the offensive dynamic has changed a fair bit.
The Kansas City Chiefs' offensive style is changing — and Patrick Mahomes' deep-pass magic is fading
Rewind to 2022 and the Chiefs were electric. Patrick Mahomes threw for over 5,000 yards and 41 touchdowns en route to the coveted MVP title. Kansas City's offense set the tone every game, torching defenses with explosive plays. But those fireworks have long fizzled.
In 2023 and 2024, Kansas City's attack turned far more conservative, while the defense stepped up to carry more of the load. Wins are still coming, but they are often gritty, low-scoring battles – a stark contrast to the big-play spectacles fans were once used to.
Breaking down what's behind the drop in Mahomes' long throws downfield
Patrick Mahomes made his name slinging it deep, often finding targets 20 or more yards downfield with precision. Between 2018 and 2022, he averaged 4.3 deep pass attempts per game, piling up 45 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions.
His passer rating on those throws? A stunning 112.3. But things took a turn. In the past two seasons (2023-2024), those attempts dropped to just three per game. The production dropped off a cliff – only four touchdowns, eight interceptions and a steep decline in passer rating to just 47.7.
NFL Analyst says there were warning signs in 2022
NFL analyst Nick Wright took a closer look at this regression during an interview – and believes the warning signs were already visible during Mahomes' second MVP run.
'He kind of stopped throwing deep in 2022, the year he won league MVP, because there was so much run-after-catch stuff. The 2023 it seems like gets chalked up to drops, and nobody cared anyway because they won the Super Bowl. Last year, for me, was the perfect storm of sucking in the deep passing game.
'
Mahomes: "Got to be better at throwing down the field," is NFC Eagles to lose? | FIRST THINGS FIRST
So what does all of this mean moving forward? The Kansas Chiefs are still very much a contender, with Patrick Mahomes leading the way and a stout defense backing him up.
But the days of him launching 60-yard bombs every week may be behind us – at least for now.
FAQs
Q: Why has Patrick Mahomes stopped throwing deep as often?
A: Several factors are at play, including offensive scheme changes and a greater reliance on short passes and yards after the catch.
Q: Is Mahomes still playing at an MVP level?
A: While he remains elite, his deep passing stats have significantly declined compared to his earlier MVP seasons.
Q: Are the Chiefs still a top NFL team despite this change?
A: Yes -- they have won a Super Bowl and 15 regular-season games recently, showing they can adapt and win in different ways.
Also read:
Bad Bunny shares why filming with shirtless Travis Kelce in Happy Gilmore 2 was too much fun: To make Taylor Swift jealous?
For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the
India vs England Test match
here.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
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