Chiefs Vs Lions: QB Patrick Mahomes’ Performance Was Embarrassing, Is That The Best He Could Perform?

The term “unprompted” wasn’t spoken by Patrick Mahomes. But when questioned, the starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs also didn’t disagree.

Chiefs Vs. Lions: QB Patrick Mahomes’ Performance Was Embarrassing, Is That The Best He Could Perform?

Was the Detroit Lions’ 21-20 defeat embarrassing? The defending Super Bowl champions started their season 0-1 Thursday night against a club that missed the playoffs the previous year while playing at home.

“It’s embarrassing for me to lose any time,” Mahomes said during the postgame news conference. “Like I said after the ring ceremony, I’ve moved on to the next season. Obviously, it’s cool for the fans to be able to see the banner and drop in at Arrowhead Stadium. But this is a whole new year and I think I know that and we are trying to win another Super Bowl and this is obviously not the way we wanted to start.

“Any time I lose, I’m embarrassed. So I’m going to try to get better so I don’t lose more as the season goes on.”

For the only time in his career, Mahomes failed to surpass 250 passing yards. The 10th lowest passer rating of his career was his 77.5. None of this was the quarterback’s fault.

Instead, Mahomes was frequently slowed down by poor receiving, most notably by Kadarius Toney, who dropped four passes and was solely to blame for Mahomes’ lone interception by turning even the most ordinary of catches into a pick-six for the Lions.

In the midst of his ongoing contract dispute, four-time All-Pro defensive lineman Chris Jones sat between his agents in a stadium suite while the Lions ran for 118 yards, including the game-winning 8-yard touchdown. Jared Goff, the quarterback for the Lions, was struck four times but only sacked once.

The Chiefs accomplished the remarkable: They rendered Patrick Mahomes defenseless without the help of Travis Kelce or Chris Jones, who both provide a boost on defense. No offense to the Lions, but the Chiefs solely to blame for Thursday night’s disaster. You read it correctly.

Travis Kelce, a seven-time All-Pro tight end, sat on the sidelines with an extended knee. He saw that only 53.8% of Mahomes’ throws connected with their intended recipients, down from 67.1% a year before.

Mahomes recognized the negative effect Kelce’s absence had on the contest. Kelce has averaged 1,288 yards and 9.4 touchdowns per regular season in Mahomes’ starting tenure, and Mahomes said the Chiefs were “losing one of the best — I think the best — tight end of all time” for the opener.

 

FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE- 

This Is How Coach Prime Deion Sanders Made Colorado A Tough Team