Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is nearing another milestone as he prepares for his 100th start, set to take place this Sunday against the Chargers in Los Angeles. Reflecting on Mahomes’ first game, tight end Travis Kelce recalls how he and several starters, including QB Alex Smith, watched from the sidelines as the Chiefs wrapped up the 2017 regular season against the Denver Broncos. Kelce remembered the freezing five-degree weather that day in Colorado.
At that time, there was great anticipation to see Mahomes play, as he had impressed during practice. “We were all excited to see him let loose,” Kelce said. Mahomes did just that, leading the Chiefs to a 14-point lead before being subbed out. Although the Broncos tied the game, Mahomes returned and led a game-winning field goal drive, showcasing his potential.
Since then, Mahomes’ career has been defined by dramatic finishes, including leading the Chiefs to three Super Bowl victories. His first 99 games have been some of the most successful in NFL history, with 77 wins, 29,083 passing yards, and 224 touchdown passes. Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and Mecole Hardman have been his top targets, catching 51, 41, and 15 touchdowns, respectively. Mahomes has dominated certain opponents, beating Derek Carr eight times and compiling a 12-1 record against the Denver Broncos. He also holds the highest winning percentage (.778) among quarterbacks with at least 99 starts and boasts a playoff winning percentage of .833.
Though Mahomes has had a slow start this season in terms of touchdowns, the Chiefs are 3-0 for the first time in four years. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh praised him, saying, “There’s nothing he can’t do.”
For Sunday’s game, the Chiefs’ defense will rely on safety Chamarri Conner, who has made an impact early this season with 22 tackles, a fumble return for a touchdown, an interception, and a crucial sack in last week’s game. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo highlighted Conner’s physical style and ability to shed blockers.
Patrick Mahomes
On the Chargers’ side, outside linebacker Khalil Mack will be a player to watch. Mack, who has faced the Chiefs 13 times in his career, has 8 1/2 sacks against Kansas City and is off to a strong start this season, ranking fifth among edge rushers with a PFF grade of 87.4. He recently recorded 1 1/2 sacks against the Steelers.
Chiefs rookie punter Matt Araiza has also been solid, averaging 42.1 yards per punt. He made a crucial play last week, saving a high snap, which Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub noted could have cost the game if mishandled.
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