Patrick Mahomes is out here averaging an insane 10.9 yards per pass attempt *when he is under pressure* through the first three weeks of the NFL season. This isn’t just a good stat; it’s a league-leading figure, with Mahomes also generating 9.7 Expected Points Added (EPA) over the 28 pressured dropbacks he’s faced. Seriously, the guy is operating on another level right now, making plays even when things break down around him.
Mahomes Is Just Different Under Pressure
We’ve all seen it with our own eyes, and now the numbers from Next Gen Stats back it up: Mahomes is flat-out dealing. He leads all NFL players in both yards per pass attempt and EPA when pressured. Just look at the rest of the top five: Josh Allen is at 9.6 yards per attempt with a negative 0.8 EPA, Tyler Shough is at 9.1 yards and a brutal negative 16 EPA, Geno Smith sits at 9 yards and negative 2.8 EPA, and Jared Goff is at 8.2 yards and negative 5.5 EPA. Mahomes is the only one in that top tier with positive EPA under pressure; he’s turning bad situations into good ones. His two interceptions this season look more like simple mistiming or miscommunication with a wide receiver than him actually putting the ball in harm’s way. That Week 3 pick was behind Rashee Rice, and the Miami Dolphins just made a spectacular play to force the turnover. Mahomes is locked in, whether he’s running the scheme or improvising outside of it because of pressure. The coaching staff still needs to limit how often he gets pressured, but he’s good enough to make it work anyway.
YAC Attack with Kelce and Rice
When it comes to yards after catch, the Chiefs have two guys absolutely dominating. Travis Kelce leads the entire NFL with 156 yards after catch, and Rashee Rice is right up there at eighth with 120 yards through three weeks. Head coach Andy Reid gets a ton of credit for his offense, known for racking up YAC, but this year’s improved run game also plays a big role. Kelce and Rice are masters at finding those soft spots in zone coverage, especially when defenses are anticipating a run on early downs. You can see the Chiefs’ offense using play-action and misdirection to open up throwing windows for these two. But honestly, you’ve got to give the players themselves credit too. They make the most of those opportunities with their unique abilities to get upfield after they catch the ball.
A Glaring Soft Spot in the Secondary
Not everything is sunshine and touchdowns for the Chiefs, though. L’Jarius Sneed has been a bit of a weakness in coverage. Pro Football Focus stats show Sneed has allowed an 80% completion rate when targeted. He’s been thrown at 25 times while playing in the slot for most of his snaps, and he’s been faulted on 20 catches for 195 yards, with a big chunk of that, 116 yards, coming after the catch. Quarterbacks are lighting him up with a 112.5 passer rating when throwing his way, and he’s also drawn three penalties. It looks like he’s one of the only soft spots right now in what is otherwise a pretty tough defense.
The Chiefs are off to a strong start, showcasing a dominant quarterback and explosive pass catchers. But with Sneed’s coverage struggles, how long can they maintain this pace? Teams are definitely going to target that weakness. We’ll see if the coaching staff can scheme him into better positions or if he steps up as the season continues.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Arrowhead Pride.
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