Patrick Mahomes has found his groove in 2026, dropping dimes deep downfield like we haven’t seen in a minute, and the entire league is about to get a painful reminder of what that means. The Chiefs’ offense struggled in recent seasons because those crucial deep completions, the throws of 20 or more yards in the air, just weren’t clicking. But now? Mahomes is tied for the third-most “big-time throws” on deep passes this year, and get this, he’s doing it despite ranking 20th in deep attempts, according to Pro Football Focus. That’s efficiency, baby.
Mahomes Unleashed: The Deep Pass Returns
Last season was a rough watch for anyone hoping to see Mahomes launching bombs. He completed only 42 of his 101 attempts where the ball traveled at least 15 yards, a completion percentage of just 41.6% which ranked him 19th in the league. Worse still, he threw five interceptions compared to only two touchdowns on those deep shots. It just wasn’t the Mahomes we knew, right? But this year, it’s a whole different story. He’s rediscovered that connection, making those highlight-reel throws that electrify the field. This isn’t just a minor improvement; it’s a fundamental shift that puts the entire Chiefs’ offense back on a terrifying trajectory.
Weapons Needed: The Receiver Depth Chart
Even with Mahomes slinging it, there are still some question marks, especially at wide receiver. The Chiefs didn’t bring in any new pass-catching help in the offseason, and it shows. This offense could absolutely use another weapon, whether that’s out wide or in the slot. Guys like Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy are doing their thing, with Worthy proving to be a legit deep threat and a beast after the catch. But the depth in that group is minimal. We’re still waiting for one of them to emerge as that consistent go-to target Mahomes can always rely on, a wait that honestly might never end with the current roster. With the team now squarely back in the Super Bowl conversation, they gotta maximize what they have at wide receiver and probably look for some insurance behind the starters to avoid a late-season stumble. That’s why names like Jerry Jeudy are even being floated around as potential trade targets.
Raiders Rivalry: A Massive Test Looms
This Sunday’s game against the Raiders is gonna be a massive test for the Chiefs’ revitalized deep-passing attack. The Raiders defense has been straight-up opportunistic this season, logging a league-high nine takeaways, including four interceptions. They’re not afraid to go after the ball, and that aggressive style could either lead to more explosive plays for Mahomes or a few heart-stopping moments. Even Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo sounded a bit cagey about his defense’s plan, talking about Chamarri Conner, Jaden Hicks, and Alohi Gilman and how they’d like some plays back from the Miami game, especially on those deep throws. That tells you the Raiders game is going to be a battle, and every single one of those deep connections will count big time.
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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