As the Los Angeles Chargers (10-3) prepare to travel to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs (11-2) in a game that will feature the top two teams in the AFC West, one question lingers in everyone’s head: Can the Chargers’ sixth-ranked pass defense find a way to stop Patrick Mahomes?
Mahomes is taking the NFL by storm this season thanks to a set of skills that allow him to produce exciting plays and pass touchdowns at a record pace.
The second-year signal caller is thriving under the guidance of head coach Andy Reid and, who has found a way to maximize Mahomes’ explosiveness, versatility and overall ability to move the chains to turn him into a strong MVP candidate.
Mahomes has already passed for 4,300 yards and 43 touchdowns (both numbers lead the NFL) and with three games left he’s threatening to break Payton Manning’s single-season record for most passing touchdowns (55).
He’s extremely dangerous because he’s a player that excels throwing the ball outside the pocket. Even when opposing defenses try to keep him inside the pocket as they rush at him, he always seems to find a way to escape.
He uses his unorthodox style, arm strength, and his confidence to always slip by defenders and keep making amazing throws that have defensive staffs all around the league scratching their heads.
Mahomes has no fear, so he right now feels like he can put the ball anywhere on the football field, and usually, he does, especially when he’s scrambling around.
He’s reminiscent of Dan Marino, who didn’t need to take a step back to release the ball as he had the ability to accurately pass it to his receivers with a simple flick of his wrist.
The Chargers will need to study a lot of tape to devise a plan that will allow them to do that on Thursday to win and tie the Chiefs atop the division standings. Derwin James and Desmond King, team leaders with three picks apiece will need to play their best game of the season to keep Mahomes from having another 4-touchdown performance as he did in week 1 in Los Angeles.
Joey Bosa, averaging a sack a game since returning in Week 11, along with the rest of the defense will need to bring their A-game to accomplish the feat as the Chiefs have won four straight games against the Chargers at Arrowhead.
