Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Receives Startling Review From Champion

The Kansas City Chiefs are navigating what many see as their toughest year in quite some time, marked by a series of highs and lows, including key injuries and stunning defeats against opponents they normally overpower. Their route to the NFL playoffs remains steep, though fans and analysts alike hold onto the belief that quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his squad will somehow pull off the impossible once more.

Coming off a Super Bowl appearance that ended in defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Chiefs have hit a rough patch. Their latest setback was a narrow defeat at the hands of Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys, leaving them with a 6-6 mark and staring up at the postseason field from the sidelines.

To secure a spot, they’ll almost certainly need to claim victory in every game left on their calendar while counting on slip-ups from higher-placed rivals. While their closing slate isn’t the most daunting imaginable, it does feature matchups against three squads already locked into playoff contention—triumphs there could swing the door open for Kansas City.

Even amid this underwhelming campaign, Mahomes retains his status as one of the league’s elite signal-callers. That said, a bold opinion surfaced recently on ESPN’s “First Take,” warning that the Super Bowl champion and past MVP’s reputation might suffer lasting damage.

Jeff Saturday, the former Indianapolis Colts center who claimed a Super Bowl ring, dropped the unexpected commentary during the broadcast, diving into perceptions of Mahomes’ standing.

“We have all, including myself, and still do, probably believe he is the best that’s ever done it to this point in his career. It has been a remarkable watch what he is capable of doing and what he has done for this franchise, but we can’t act like that he hasn’t been part of the issues that have happened with the Chiefs,” Saturday said.

Saturday pointed to Mahomes’ costly picks in crunch time and uncharacteristic missteps that have deviated from the norm for the star passer. He acknowledged broader team struggles but emphasized the sky-high bar set for Mahomes, where anything short of a Super Bowl run feels like a letdown.

“You’re talking about if they don’t make the playoffs. You still have a little less than a third of the season left. If you don’t make the playoffs, that means you are in a spiral, which would be shocking to me, but if they did miss the playoffs, it would make me look at Patrick Mahomes differently,” he said.

Saturday highlighted the talent surrounding Mahomes, including tight end Travis Kelce, speedy rookie Xavier Worthy, and wideout Rashee Rice—a group that was supposed to restore the explosive, high-octane attack synonymous with Chiefs football. Yet, that spark has been notably absent.Looking ahead, Kansas City faces a scorching Houston Texans side in their next outing, bolstered by the return of rookie sensation C.J. Stroud under center.

The gauntlet continues with clashes against the surging Los Angeles Chargers and the gritty Denver Broncos, both firmly in the mix for postseason berths.

Their best shots at stacking wins appear to be against the struggling Tennessee Titans and the inconsistent Las Vegas Raiders. Still, before wrapping up against the Raiders, the Chiefs must first conquer the Texans, Chargers, and Broncos to keep their faint hopes alive.