At times, it seems as if Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is almost bulletproof. If he doesn’t have an aura of invincibility, he certainly has an aura of inevitability around him, just as legendary QBs Tom Brady and Joe Montana once did.

But that aura took a hit when the Chiefs lost in lopsided fashion during Super Bowl LIX in February to the Philadelphia Eagles. That game was very close, and Mahomes had the uncharacteristic look of vulnerability and frustration throughout.

Although the Chiefs’ roster is no weaker than it was last fall and winter, some are counting them out as Week 1 of the 2025 campaign approaches. Veteran NFL analyst Greg Cosell identified a key flaw in Mahomes’ game that could be exposed by opponents.

“I’ve been told by coaches in the league that (Mahomes) is not among the best progression readers in the league…”

For the last several years, Mahomes has been known as a magician who can ad-lib and make something out of nothing, especially in third and fourth-down situations, as well as anyone who has ever played the game. But over the last two seasons, his numbers have dipped, and given Cosell’s assessment, one has to wonder if it wasn’t entirely because of the personnel around the two-time MVP.

After throwing for 5,250 yards and 41 touchdowns in 2022, Mahomes had 4,183 passing yards and 27 passing touchdowns the following year. Those numbers would be strong for most other NFL quarterbacks, but for him, they were subpar. Last year, he logged 3,928 passing yards and 26 passing touchdowns as Kansas City failed in its attempt to win an unprecedented third straight Vince Lombardi Trophy.

This season, the team will have an added challenge in the form of the six-game suspension given to wide receiver Rashee Rice to start the season. Rice showed plenty of potential as a rookie in 2023, but he injured his knee in Week 4 last year and missed the rest of the season as a result.

The Chiefs will have to rely more on their running game, as well as second-year speedster WR Xavier Worthy and wideouts Marquise Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster. While Worthy flashed some real potential last year, none of the three is a huge threat.

Just months ago, many felt Mahomes was well on his way to surpassing Montana and Brady to become the greatest QB and overall player in NFL history. Now, he will have to get back to work on adding to his legacy and reputation and reminding everyone how supremely talented and skilled he is.