Mahomes lands on the list not because he was particularly bad on Sunday, just because he was particularly bad when measured up against Patrick Mahomes. Like Tagovailoa, he had a season-low in completions 10-plus yards downfield in Frankfurt. But unlike his Dolphin counterpart, it’s because the reigning MVP didn’t really try.
Mahomes only threw seven passes that traveled more than eight yards downfield against a Miami secondary whose 99.0 passer rating allowed is sixth worst in the NFL. The Dolphins smothered Travis Kelce — four targets, 14 receiving yards — and dared the rest of the Chiefs to beat them. Sometimes this worked; check out the space Kelce leaves behind in his wake while multiple defenders follow him.
But for the most part it didn’t. Noah Gray led the team in receiving with three catches and 34 yards. Rashee Rice had a touchdown, but only two targets on the day after emerging as the team’s potential WR1. One of the league’s most explosive offenses just sorta existed on Sunday.
Maybe that’s jet lag, or maybe it’s a reasoп to be coпcerпed. Fortυпately, Mahomes has a Week 10 bye to figυre thiпgs oυt.