Why Patrick Mahomes is not enjoying as much as his MVP stage and the way it's contributed to Travis Kelce's struggles

The Kansas City Chiefs are one among simply 5 remaining undefeated groups, however their 3-0 document is hardly convincing. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has admitted he isn’t enjoying as much as his MVP stage, and the Chiefs imagine they know what’s been ailing his play.

This previous week, the Chiefs targeted on Mahomes’ footwork and fundamentals, hoping to calm his base and get him to enjoying extra within the rhythm of the offense.

“I really feel like I have never performed very properly, and that is not a stats factor,” Mahomes mentioned final week after the Falcons win. “I simply really feel like I am lacking alternatives at any time when they’re on the market and never throwing the ball within the precise spot I need it to be at. So, it is about me getting again to my fundamentals, placing our guys in the suitable place, after which we have got to execute at a better stage offensively. If groups are going to make us drive the sector, now we have to show that we’re in a position to try this, and I am certain we’ll get plenty of the identical this subsequent week with the Chargers.”

Sources imagine the hits Mahomes took in Week 2 — principally by the hands of Bengals move rusher Trey Hendrickson — brought about Mahomes to not belief his blindside as a lot, thus inflicting Mahomes to hurry himself and his personal footwork within the Week 3 sport in opposition to Atlanta.

Rookie Kingsley Suamataia began at left deal with to start the 12 months for Kansas Metropolis, however Wanya Morris has since taken over on the left aspect and Suamataia may nonetheless earn the job again. It is logical to imagine the Chiefs will assign extra blocking assist to that aspect of the offensive line within the rapid future. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, quarterbacks coach Dave Girardi and assistant QBs coach Dan Williams have all been concerned in getting Mahomes again to the fundamentals this week.

Left deal with snap % via three weeks

Per TruMedia

Mahomes’ beneath customary play has helped contribute to traditionally low productiveness from All Professional tight finish Travis Kelce.

It has been the slowest begin to a season in Kelce’s career. He has the fewest catches (8), targets (12), receiving yards (69), yards after catch (21) and first downs (4) via the primary three video games of any season the place he is been wholesome. That is the longest he is gone with out a receiving landing in his Corridor of Fame profession.

“It is about getting him via the season,” one supply mentioned. “He’ll have one among these video games the place he breaks out as a result of he nonetheless has sufficient quickness and wiggle. A few of YAC will not be the identical.”

Kelce’s yards after catch have fallen off dramatically to this point this season. He had a profession common of 5.8 yards after catch coming into this 12 months, however he is turned out a median of simply 2.6 yards after catch to this point this season. That stat has seen a linear drop annually since he averaged 6.1 yards after catch in 2021.

That has led to a number of questions on whether or not Kelce — the boyfriend of famous person Taylor Swift — is in one of the best soccer form he might be in.

“Are we not allowed to say that he is out of form?,” requested former ESPN persona Todd McShay on a latest podcast. “That he is been partying all offseason? That he is been jet-setting round with probably the most well-known individual most likely in all the world? That he is consuming — going to the U.S. Open and he is bought cocktails?”

Whereas few deny Kelce has misplaced a step — and has for the previous few years — a number of sources mentioned he works onerous at apply and performs via the whistle. He is been open on performs, sources say, and Mahomes merely hasn’t thrown it his means.

Kelce turns 35 subsequent week, and solely three Tremendous Bowl-era tight ends have racked up a minimum of 700 receiving yards in a season at age 35 or older: Ben Watson, Shannon Sharpe and Tony Gonzalez, who did it 3 times.

The Chiefs ripped up Kelce’s outdated deal within the offseason and gave him a brand new, two-year deal price $34.25 million. By common annual worth, Kelce as soon as once more turned the highest-paid tight finish within the league. However the deal additionally offers Kelce the flexibility to retire after the season with little monetary penalty to the Chiefs, who would eat simply $2.55 million in lifeless cash in 2025.