After Monday night’s loss to the Eagles, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was asked multiple questions about multiple dropped passes, but he declined to criticize his receivers.
Perhaps the biggest drop was the deep pass to Márquez Valdés-Scantling that could have been a game-winning touchdown. Mahomes hit Valdes-Scantling on the hands, Valdes-Scantling couldn’t hold on, and Mahomes said afterward that he wished he had made the catch a little easier for his receiver.
“They formed a triple team with Travis [Kelce] So I went to the guy who won downfield and Márquez won. He just didn’t keep the ball. “I probably could have thrown it a little bit shorter, he was that open,” Mahomes said.
Mahomes’ final pass, to Justin Watson on fourth-and-25 on the Chiefs’ final offensive play, hit Watson for what should have been a 27-yard gain, but the ball went through Watson’s hands. Mahomes said his receivers know he still trusts them despite plays like that.
“They know I’m going to keep shooting,” Mahomes said. “Normally they are going to make the plays. Happens.”
Mahomes repeatedly refused to say that dropped passes were the Chiefs’ problems.
“Not only did that lose the game, a lot of things happened,” Mahomes said. “It starts with me. I have to make better throws at certain times.”
Mahomes again: “I didn’t make good enough passes in certain situations.”
Mahomes credited the Chiefs’ defense for its excellent play this season and said he is confident the offense can play better.
“I know how hard guys work at the end of the day,” Mahomes said. “We have had moments where we have played good attacking football. “All you can do is go to work and keep getting better.”
Mahomes continues to play at an MVP level, but his receivers need a lot of work and improvement.
