Patrick Mahomes is coming off arguably the most impressive season of any first-year starter in all of professional sports – ever. He joined Peyton Manning in 2018 as the only players in NFL history to throw for at least 50 touchdowns and 5,000 yards, outdoing the top season of the quarterback many believe is the greatest of all time in yards per attempt, touchdown percentage, and QBR.
Reminder: The league's reigning MVP is still just 23.
Given the presence of Mahomes, it's easy to assume the Kansas City Chiefs on the success they enjoyed in 2018, setting Andy Reid's team up as maybe the Super Bowl favorite heading into next season. Wrong. A series of defections by marquee defenders from the league's worst defense, Tyreek Hill's uncertain legal situation, and the general pitfalls of hunters becoming the hunted have given fans and analysts alike reason for concern with regard to the Chiefs.
NFL Network's Reggie Wayne and David Carr are among that group of newfound detractors, fingering Kansas City as the “playoff team in the most trouble” in an article for NFL.com.
“Even though they had maybe the best offense in the league in 2018, the Chiefs will no doubt struggle next season,” the former Indianapolis Colts star wrote. “They just jettisoned two of the best pass rushers (Dee Ford and Justin Houston) from an already subpar defense. Not only that, Kansas City comes into 2019 with crazy high expectations, and I know how much of a challenge that is to do from my years with the Colts. It's hard to duplicate a season like the one the Chiefs had a year ago. There's a lot more room to fall than there is to climb.”
Carr, a former No. 1 overall draft pick of the Houston Texans, also took note of the Chiefs' potential struggles rushing the passer, and alluded to the big-picture question of continuity hovering over a team that will have undergone significant turnover come Week 1.
“There are so many questions surrounding the Chiefs,” the former journeyman quarterback wrote. “After exits by Dee Ford and Justin Houston, how are they going to rebuild the pass rush? How will they replace Kareem Hunt's backfield production? What will Tyreek Hill's come Week 1? I'm just not sure what the Chiefs will be.
“Still, regardless of K.C.'s flaws, you can bet that I'll tune in every week to watch Patrick Mahomes.”
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