NFL analyst predicts return to ugly football for Patrick Mahomes in Week 10
Patrick Mahomes' name has been synonymous with great football throughout his NFL career. This season could be different, as the loss of Rashee Rice, Tyreek Hill and the slow decline of Travis Kelce have set the stage for the lowest production of his career.
However, with DeAndre Hopkins now playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, Mahomes has already thrown for three touchdowns in one game. Some fans believe his addition has been enough to put him back on track, but one NFL analyst believes it will be a return to sluggishness on offense for him.
On Thursday's episode of "Pro Football Talk," Charean Williams highlighted the reason why.
"I still think with as many interceptions as he's thrown, I still think it's more likely that he'll throw two or more rather than none at all because I think he's going to have at least one interception in this game that that that Broncos defense," Williams said (01:55). "I think they're going to get at least one, so it's more likely they have two rather than none at all."
She credited the Denver Broncos defense for playing well all season long, except for last week's implosion against Lamar Jackson. The team is ranked in the top six in several categories and also held Mahomes to just nine points in their 2023 duel in Denver.
Patrick Mahomes on pace to finish 2024 with multi-year decline
Mahomes is back on the positive side when it comes to his touchdown-interception ratio, but it isn't a cause for celebration. With just 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions at the midway point of the season, Mahomes is on pace for 22 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
Such a final stat line would be a two-year decline from his 41 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2022. Last season, Mahomes threw for 27 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, falling under a 2:1 ratio for the first time in his career.
The addition of DeAndre Hopkins has given Patrick Mahomes perhaps his biggest new star since he arrived in the NFL, but with Hopkins close to the end of his career, the question of his long-term efficacy remains.
Will Hopkins be able to defeat Broncos cornerback star Patrick Sutrain II to give Mahomes a leg up and help turn the decline on its head?