Patrick Mahomes just reminded the entire NFL universe that he is absolutely still *that guy*, dropping a spectacular five touchdowns and 348 yards passing in a dominant 35-13 road win over Atlanta on Sunday. Yeah, the dude was slinging it, making everyone who’s been talking up Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, or even the new-look Bears and Jags eat their words. But hold up, Seattle. While KC might be flat-out rolling right now, we all remember a certain road game where they didn’t look so hot against *our* Seahawks.
Mahomes Reminds Everyone Who’s Boss (Unless You’re Us)
After missing the playoffs last year and already taking some hits this season, Mahomes, at 31, is older than a lot of starting QBs out there. We’re talking guys like Rodgers, Prescott, Cousins, Stafford, and Goff in his age bracket. Yet, when he’s playing like *this*, it seriously feels like he’s never going away. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid couldn’t stop praising him, calling Mahomes “a luxury to have and to coach.” Reid highlighted how Mahomes “does an excellent job of spreading around and using all of his receivers,” adding, “He’s not afraid to use any of them. You don’t see a lot of that around the league.” It’s a good point, especially when you see the numbers from this latest game.
New Connections and Kelce’s Concerns
Speaking of spreading the ball around, how about Josh Downs? The guy just got to Kansas City via a trade-deadline deal with Indianapolis a few days ago, and he was already getting into a rhythm with Mahomes, scoring his first Chiefs touchdown with 18 seconds left in the first half! That’s quick work. Reid was grinning, saying, “Our new guy, Downs, it looks like there’s a connection there, right? They worked well today, and that’s on two days of practice.” Mahomes himself admitted they hadn’t had “a ton of reps,” leading to some missed opportunities, but emphasized that “whenever you do it in the game, that’s the best reps to get. I’ll be able to have that trust as the season goes on.” Downs finished with four receptions for 53 yards and that crucial touchdown. Cyrus Allen chipped in 44 yards and a score, Andrew Armstrong added 43 yards and a TD, and Rashee Rice led the team with 82 yards. The only slight worry? Travis Kelce, Mahomes’ long-time security blanket, had just two catches for 30 yards before a hard tackle sent him to the locker room. Reid confirmed, “Kells left for a bit with a calf. He’s been battling this ankle. … Kind of landed on it that first catch and twisted up a little bit.” You never want to hear about Kelce limping off, especially when he’s been battling injuries already.
The Truth About Tough Opponents
Look, the Chiefs ran over Denver in Week 1 and then beefed up on other high-calorie opponents like Indianapolis, Miami, Las Vegas, and the Chargers. That’s all good. But here’s the kicker: when Kansas City actually faced some tougher opposition , specifically *our* Seattle Seahawks and Denver on the road , the Chiefs *folded*. Straight up. Yeah, Atlanta isn’t exactly a playoff-caliber team in any respectable division, so while five touchdowns to four different receivers is impressive, it also needs to be seen in context. Mahomes might be back to his elite form, but the blueprint for beating them is already out there, and our Hawks showed everyone how it’s done.
So, while the NFL world might be buzzing about Mahomes’ latest heroics and the Chiefs’ “roll,” we here in the Emerald City know the real deal. They can put up big numbers against weak teams, but when they hit the road against a formidable opponent like *us*, things look a little different. Keep an eye on that Kelce calf and how Mahomes builds trust with Downs. But more importantly, let’s remember that the Seahawks already proved they can shut down this Chiefs offense when it counts. Let’s go, Hawks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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