The Mahomes paradox

Patrick Mahomes, whose four touchdowns led the Kansas City Chiefs to a 30-17 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, is truly turning heads. As the 2025 NFL campaign hits the one-third mark, the 30-year-old is rediscovering the electric form that earned him league MVP honors back in 2022.

Mahomes through six games: 2024 vs 2025

Facing a tough slate of opponents - Chargers, Eagles, Giants, Ravens, Jaguars, and Lions - the Chiefs have stumbled to a modest 3-3 record. But Mahomes’ individual performances tell a different story. Here’s a breakdown of his numbers over those six games:

• Week 1: 258 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 57 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
• Week 2: 187 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 66 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
• Week 3: 224 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 2 rushing yards
• Week 4: 270 passing yards, 4 passing TDs, 5 rushing yards
• Week 5: 318 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 60 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
• Week 6: 257 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 32 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD

It’s a stat line that’s been trending upward with each passing week. What’s more impressive is Mahomes’ adaptability - he’s not leaning on any one receiver to get the job done. Case in point: in this weekend’s win over the Lions - his first career victory against Jared Goff - Mahomes completed passes to eight different receivers.

A disconnect in the numbers

Here’s where things get interesting. Mahomes has thrown for 1,514 yards and 11 touchdowns through six games - both improvements over his 2024 numbers at the same point (1,389 yards and 6 TDs). Yet the Chiefs were undefeated at this stage last season. It’s a paradox: a better Mahomes doesn’t necessarily mean a better Kansas City.

We’ve seen this before. In both the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Mahomes put up gaudy numbers, but the team struggled with consistency. It’s a reminder that even the most transcendent quarterback can’t do it alone.

Reinforcements are coming

As if Mahomes needed more weapons, the Chiefs are about to get a major boost. With six games in the books, wide receiver Rashee Rice - widely regarded as the team’s WR1 - is eligible to return from suspension. That’s bad news for opposing defenses.

With Rice back in the fold and Mahomes firing on all cylinders, Kansas City’s offense could be entering a new gear. If the defense can replicate the kind of performance it delivered against Detroit’s high-powered attack, the Chiefs might just be gearing up for another deep playoff run.

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