The Kansas City Chiefs came up just short of a historic threepeat against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX but how much of that failure was down to Patrick Mahomes‘ efforts? A new stat hints he could be to blame more than many think.
The 29-year-old’s 2024/25 NFL season was mixed to say the least. Although he made it to the final game of the campaign, he wasn’t particularly inspiring and had one of the most challenging seasons of his career.
While the Chiefs managed to secure 15 regular-season victories, clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and make a Super Bowl appearance, analysts were split on just how good Mahomes’ individual contributions were, with some suggesting he needs a good defensive line to flourish.
However, given his track record, fans have been somewhat lenient, choosing not to place the blame squarely on his shoulders. Nonetheless, his statistical downturn has not gone unnoticed, with Pro Football Focus (PFF) significantly lowering his ranking in their latest player assessments.
Once a regular feature at the top of the PFF 101 rankings, in which the star has now slipped to 39th overall, a far cry from his two-time MVP credentials.
“After ranking in the top five of the PFF 101 in each of the previous two seasons,” the PFF said. “Mahomes saw a notable dip in production and impact during the 2024 campaign, leading to a slight slide.
“However, he remains one of the best in the game at limiting mistakes-one of the most valuable traits a quarterback can have-ranking in the 82nd percentile in avoiding negative plays.”
What does this mean for Mahomes?
A glance at his statistics reveals why he has dropped in the rankings. Mahomes recorded 3,928 passing yards-his lowest total since 2017-and threw 26 touchdowns, the fewest since his first year as a starter.
Additionally, while he had 11 interceptions, the lowest in three years, his overall production took a hit. His passer rating (93.5) and QBR (67.6) improved slightly from the previous season, but his standing among other quarterbacks remained uncharacteristically mediocre.
He ranked seventh in passing yards, 10th in completion percentage, and ninth in both touchdowns and passing yards per game. But its clear from the limited mistakes ranking that he wasn’t wasting plays, he simply wasn’t getting the same amount of volume as previous seasons.
This could be due to injuries to the Chiefs offense as they missed the likes of Hollywood Brown, Isiah Pacheco and Rashee Rice throughout the season, or a weaker offensive line affording him fewer chances to keep the ball and analyse the field.
