Patrick Mahomes remains humble, deflects praise after record-setting day

[Hammock Parties]

SAINT PATRICK

https://theathletic.com/528566/2018/...d-setting-day/

PITTSBURGH​ — Disregard​ the​ fact that they​ have played just two​ games. Ignore the notion​ that​ one shouldn’t​ overreact​ to​ NFL​​ results before Thanksgiving — and especially before Halloween. After two road victories, every football observer, no matter their level of knowledge of the team’s recent history, shouldn’t be afraid to recalibrate their thoughts about the 2018 Kansas City Chiefs.

In order for the Chiefs to win in this proud city, such as perilous place for opposing teams, their quarterback had to be special. Instead, he was spectacular.

Patrick Mahomes, the young gunslinger who will turn 23 years old Monday, produced the best game of his just-launched career Sunday. The Steelers blitzed Mahomes often, they sometimes dropped eight defenders into coverage in the red zone, and they hit him hard at times. But the Steelers’ defensive strategy and their signature toughness couldn’t sway the outcome of Sunday’s game at Heinz Field.

The Chiefs’ absolute frantic 42-37 victory was a byproduct of Mahomes’ accuracy, head coach Andy Reid’s brilliant offensive game plan and the rest of the players raising their performances alongside their swaggering quarterback. Mahomes amassed 326 passing yards and committed no turnovers. His six touchdown passes added him to the top of the franchise’s record book for single-game TDs next to Len Dawson, a Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer.

Mahomes also set a new NFL record by passing for 10 touchdowns in the first two games of a season. He was so efficient and so precise against the Steelers that he finished with more touchdown passes than incompletions.

“You never expect to have 10 touchdowns at this point in the season, but I knew that this offense, and the weapons that we have, and the scheme Coach Reid is drawing up, that we have a chance to be really, really good,” Mahomes said smiling. “The possibilities, I mean, they’re endless.”

Five different Chiefs — tight end Travis Kelce, running back Kareem Hunt and receivers Tyreek Hill, Chris Conley and Demarcus Robinson — caught a touchdown pass for Mahomes.

In the game’s first six minutes, Mahomes threw two lasers for touchdowns. He found Conley in the middle of the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown. On the next possession, Mahomes beat the Steelers’ tight, bracketing coverage to connect with Kelce for a 19-yard score.

The Chiefs led 21-0 after the first quarter, which prompted boos from the Steelers faithful. Certain non-partisan fans on Twitter began asking the Steelers to “pass the sticks,” the ultimate disrespectful phrase in the Madden NFL video game community.

“I see Pat doing this all season long,” Kelce said. “He’s got the confidence. As long as we give him time and get open as wideouts, tight ends and running backs, he’s going to get the best of everyone.”

The Chiefs’ offensive explosion ended a seven-game losing streak in Pittsburgh that lasted 32 years. The last time the Chiefs won in Pittsburgh was Dec. 21, 1986, when the Steelers played in Three Rivers Stadium and their quarterback was Mark Malone. That season-finale victory, which clinched the Chiefs a playoff berth for the first time in 15 years, featured the team scoring all 24 of its points on special teams.

Deron Cherry recovered a blocked punt in the end zone, Nick Lowery made a 47-yard field goal, Boyce Green returned a kickoff for a 97-yard touchdown and Lloyd Burruss returned a blocked field goal for a 78-yard touchdown.

Inside the Chiefs’ radio booth Sunday, Mitch Holthus, the team’s play-by-play announcer for the past 24 years, knew he probably felt the same emotion and had the same reaction has many fans had watching Mahomes: amazement and shock.

“I didn’t see this coming,” Holthus said. “But I’m learning more and more about Patrick every day. He has a photographic memory. He is humble. Like, this could all go to his head because this is going to be the buzz around the league. But here’s the thing with this kid: He keeps his feet on the ground.

“I didn’t know he was this tough mentally and emotionally. That’s why this whole team follows him. They know he’s confident, but this dude stays humble and the guys know how tough he is and how much he works.”

Despite the offense’s success, the Chiefs’ defense could not hold the early lead. The Steelers scored 21 points in the second quarter to tie the game.

The game’s momentum changed late in the first quarter when Chiefs cornerback Orlando Scandrick committed a costly holding penalty on Steelers All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown. During that play, outside linebacker Justin Houston forced quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to fumble the ball, which defensive tackle Chris Jones scooped up for what would’ve been a five-yard touchdown. Throughout the game, penalties on both sides of the ball hurt the Chiefs and gave the Steelers opportunities to come back.

At halftime, Mahomes led his teammates.

“He came in at halftime, and [he] was very positive,” Reid said. “He was leading that charge and the talk. He’s not shy when he’s around the guys at all. I didn’t sense any panic from anybody.”

After halftime, Reid gave the full offensive game plan over to Mahomes.

The Chiefs played the third quarter almost entirely out of an empty shotgun, with five receivers spreading the Steelers’ defense. Perhaps the situation felt familiar for Mahomes, who spent his college career at Texas Tech in shootout after shootout. Mahomes responded to the added responsibility — of no longer having a run-pass balance in play-calling — by leading the Chiefs to three consecutive drives that ended in a touchdown.

“It just speaks to the weapons we have on offense,” Mahomes said. “They can’t stop everybody, so for me, it’s just about getting (the ball) to the guy that has the man-to-man coverage or has the open area. No one really cares about who is getting the shine. Everybody just wants to win.”


Mahomes also did the little tasks needed to secure the victory. He scrambled out of the pocket in the fourth quarter for a four-yard completion to Watkins for a crucial third-down conversion. With less than two minutes left, he recovered his own fumble after mishandling the snap.

Several veterans wondered how Mahomes would handle the Chiefs’ schedule after it was released in the spring. Two road games to start the season for a quarterback with only one career start, Conley said, was a difficult assignment. But with each step in Mahomes’ new role, during the offseason activities, training camp and weekly game plan preparations, he has impressed his teammates with his diligence and conviction.

“The level of confidence and poise this kid has, I haven’t seen it anywhere,” Conley said. “He has continued to just go in and learn and get better and then come on the field and execute. You can’t ask him to do anything else.”

Up next for Mahomes and the Chiefs is their home opener next week against the 49ers. From the fan base’s perspective, the game will serve as the most anticipated such opener since 1993 or 1994, which were Joe Montana’s two seasons in Kansas City.

But before analyzing the next game, Holthus, who began his tenure with the team in 1994, wanted to stress the importance of the Chiefs’ victory in Pittsburgh.

“Honestly, last week, to win a road division game to open the season, it felt like a win and a half,” Holthus said. “Even though this isn’t a division road win, to not win here in 32 years, it feels like a win and a half, too. You’re playing two playoff contenders on the road. To win both of them, the significance cannot be overstated.”

When Mahomes exited the locker room, he was greeted by his father, Patrick Mahomes Sr., his younger brother, Jackson, and his longtime girlfriend, Brittany Matthews. Each of the trio congratulated young Mahomes, gave him a long hug and took photos with him.

The last in-person interview left for Mahomes was with Holthus for the Chiefs’ website. In five minutes, Holthus asked Mahomes all the usual questions. Both men smiled when discussing the upcoming home opener. Holthus ended his interview by asking Mahomes how he planned to celebrate the victory and his 23rd birthday.

“Probably nothing,” Mahomes told Holthus. “I’ll probably go home (tonight) and start watching film of the 49ers.”

[rabblerouser]

IN.

COMING.

[pugsnotdrugs19]

I watched some of SF today....

We should be able to shred their secondary all day long.

[Buehler445]

I couldn’t be more excited with the way he plays.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Hawt

[RippedmyFlesh]

Isn't fun having the best qb in the NFL?

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by RippedmyFlesh

Isn't fun having the best qb in the NFL?

It's almost getting boring.

We need some last minute drives, not this shit where we just win comfortably.

Stop being so goddamn awesome, Patrick!

[milkman]

Words can not describe how excited I am to finally have a real QB.

[Halfcan]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

SAINT PATRICK

https://theathletic.com/528566/2018/...d-setting-day/

Mahomes probably will be watching tape on his B-day instead of kicking it in a bar like other young athletes have been known to do.

[rico]

Originally Posted by milkman

Words can not describe how excited I am to finally have a real QB.

This almost brought tears to my eyes for whatever reason.

[New World Order]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

It's almost getting boring.

We need some last minute drives, not this shit where we just win comfortably.

Stop being so goddamn awesome, Patrick!

No way

I couldn't even sleep last night.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by milkman

Words can not describe how excited I am to finally have a real QB.

How confident are you that we win a SB with Mahomes?

[New World Order]

So this is how the 2011 Packer fans felt.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by milkman

Words can not describe how excited I am to finally have a real QB.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by New World Order

No way

I couldn't even sleep last night.

I'm serious.

In the third quarter I was like "lol, score again Pat."

I have complete confidence in him now.