Former NFL QB blames Patrick Mahomes for Travis Kelce’s struggles to start 2024 season
Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce have been as connected as NFL players can be since Mahomes replaced Alex Smith in 2018. However, for the first time since 2013, Kelce has effectively been a non-factor in the passing game through three games. Many are blaming the tight end for his statistical drop-off.
However, one former NFL quarterback believes the problem lies with Patrick Mahomes. Speaking on Thursday's edition of "Get Up," Dan Orlovsky blamed the quarterback's less-than-clean game.
"One, he's getting open. Two, there are moments when Patrick looks at him and just doesn't throw him the ball. There's a hesitation from Patrick to maybe not throwing the ball in certain situations," Orlovsky said.
"Patrick's not playing incredibly clean. I think it's a little bit attached to the left tackle. ... It's not this unbelievable drop-off that people are starting to paint the picture as. Patrick's got to play cleaner."
In his first three games, Travis Kelce has earned a total of eight catches for 69 yards. He has also not scored a touchdown. Patrick Mahomes has struggled as well, throwing for five touchdowns and four interceptions so far this season. That said, it hasn't all been rough for Mahomes. In two of his three games, he has completed at least 71% of his throws and at least 66% in all three games.
Chiefs continue better win pace than 2023 despite Patrick Mahomes' apparent struggles
At this point last year, the Chiefs were 2-1. While Mahomes had struggled at times, he managed to finish the year with a better touchdown-interception ratio than he currently has. Currently, Mahomes only has five touchdowns to four interceptions. Last season, he ended with 27 touchdowns to 14 interceptions, nearly 2:1.
Despite the struggles in the passing game, Mahomes has earned wins in every game this season over the Baltimore Ravens, Bengals and Falcons. Two of the three opponents were massive AFC rivals.
While some blame for the struggling offense is getting placed on Mahomes, most agree his surrounding cast still remains a downgrade from when he had Tyreek Hill and a roughly 30 Travis Kelce.
With fewer stars on offense, it gets more difficult to complete passes. Eventually, even the best quarterbacks lose faith in all of their pass catchers, which creates an extra mental calculation before throwing the football.
Some may argue this could be what Mahomes is going through after years of tossing the football to a surrounding cast that appears to be trending down as a unit. Whether it truly is Patrick Mahomes' fault or the pass catchers' is still a debate raging in the NFL zeitgeist. Either way, Chiefs fans will hope to see a more reliable passing game.
If any of the above quotes are used, credit "Get Up" and H/T Sportskeeda.