Patrick Mahomes quietly having MVP-type season despite Chiefs' record

After a convincing win on Sunday against the Detroit Lions, the Kansas City Chiefs evened their record to 3-3. It is not the start to the season the Chiefs hoped for, but they haven't performed poorly either. 

The Chiefs have been outscored by only 12 points in their three losses, and two bad plays cost them two wins. 

Of course, Patrick Mahomes has been at the center of their early successes and failures.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes overcomes absent receivers

While it will be hard for Mahomes to duplicate his 2018 and 2022 MVP campaigns, he's off to a hot start in 2025, even if the Chiefs' record isn't what it could be. 

Through six games this season, Mahomes has 11 passing touchdowns and four rushing scores. In his 213 pass attempts, he's only thrown two interceptions, though both cost his team a win.  One bounced off Travis Kelce's hands and into the grasp of a defender. The other was Mahomes' fault as he failed to see a defender lurking. That error led to a 99-yard pick-six.

Outside of these two glaring, second-half, goal-line mistakes, Mahomes has been terrific. He's completed 64.8 percent of his passes and is averaging 252.3 yards per game through the air. Though these numbers will change, through six games, he has the lowest interception rate of his career (0.9 percent) and his best quarterback rating (81.4). 

He's not just excelling with his arm. He leads the Chiefs in rushing yards with 222, and his 37.0 yards per game is his career best. He's also tied his career high in rushing touchdowns with four. All of this in just six games.

Mahomes has put up the numbers without his top receiver, Rashee Rice, who will be available next week after his six-game suspension. The Chiefs' second-best receiver, Xavier Worthy, also missed three games with an injury.

Mahomes hasn't been as flashy as he's been at times in the past, but he's been very good. He's limiting his mistakes and making plays with both his arm and his legs. 

He's in the top 10 in the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns already, and now his receiving corps will be complete for the first time all year, starting this week. The Chiefs' early schedule was brutal, but they managed to survive it.  

On top of everything else, Mahomes threw his 300th career touchdown on Sunday, becoming the quickest ever to do so. 

There is a lot of season left, but if Mahomes can continue to perform at a high level, and his wide receiver unit can stay relatively healthy, the Chiefs can make a run at yet another Super Bowl. If that happens, Mahomes might be in the conversation for his third MVP award. He's been that good so far.