The Kansas City Chiefs looked headed in the right direction after a convincing win against the Washington Football Team.
At 3-3, that game could have been the turning point in rediscovering their dominance.
But the Tennessee Titans had other plans and pounded the Chiefs into submission.
Adding insult to injury for Kansas City, Derrick Henry even threw a touchdown pass in Tennessee’s win.
DERRICK HENRY TD PASS
What is going on?! pic.twitter.com/Lqmaj3PMEz
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 24, 2021
It’s the first time since Week 4 of the 2016 season that the Chiefs failed to score in the first half.
At the game’s end, this loss to the Titans is their second game during the Patrick Mahomes era that they failed to score a touchdown and reach at least 10 points.
The first was Super Bowl LV, wherein the Tampa Bay Buccaneers abused the patchwork Kansas City offensive line, forcing Mahomes to run for his life all game.
Since that game, the Chiefs are 3-4, and Mahomes looks like a shadow of his MVP self.
Patrick Mahomes is going to be used as a case study in INT variance over the past couple of seasons. Absurdly 'lucky' the last couple of years. Getting very 'unlucky' this season.
Turnover-worthy play rate actually gone DOWN this year.
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) October 24, 2021
He’s committing errors that he never did before, which affects the team’s performance.
Has the rest of the league figured out Mahomes?
It’s tough to accept that reality, but it sure looks like the NFL figured out the code.
If he doesn’t turn this around, the Chiefs might miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
The Titans Are The Chiefs’ Achilles Heel
Historically, the Titans are Kansas City’s kryptonite.
Andy Reid has won one out of nine games against Tennessee, his worst record against any NFL team.
Meanwhile, Travis Kelce is yet to breach the 75-yard mark in his six games against the Titans.
Unfortunately, even Mahomes got infected by Tennessee’s plague despite becoming the third quarterback in Chiefs history to have 1,000 career rushing yards.
The three points by the @Chiefs in Sunday’s 27-3 loss to the @Titans made up Kansas City’s lowest total since a 38-3 loss at Denver on Dec. 30, 2012, which was the final Chiefs game before Andy Reid was hired as head coach in 2013.
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) October 24, 2021
He threw another interception in the second quarter to stretch his unfortunate streak to six games.
That was his ninth pick in 2021, which is alarming considering he had 11 in 2019 and 2020 combined.
His nine interceptions tie Zach Wilson for league-worst this season.
Worse, Ryan Tannehill outplayed Mahomes by throwing for 270 yards and a touchdown.
On the other hand, the former league MVP completed 20 of 30 passes for 206 yards.
Is Mahomes Becoming Complacent?
In five seasons, Mahomes already had a career that other quarterbacks would die to have.
He already led the Chiefs to victory in Super Bowl LIV, which capped off their “Comeback Chiefs” playoff run.
The former Texas Tech standout was the MVP of that game.
In 2018, he won Offensive Player of the Year and league MVP.
Chiefs teammates helped Patrick Mahomes walk to the sideline after he was slow to get up following a hit. pic.twitter.com/Hkl4N9jbWV
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 24, 2021
He’s also a three-time Pro Bowler and a one-time First-Team All-Pro.
His early success inspired the Chiefs to give him the biggest contract in sports, which will start in 2022.
That said, did the terms of his 10-year, $450 million deal make him take his foot off the gas pedal?
The contract guarantees his salaries and roster bonuses for 2023 and 2024 to years in advance.
Mahomes will make $90 million over those two years alone, which is a ton of money.
People were talking about a Josh Allen regression when they should have been talking a Patrick Mahomes regression 👀👀
— Nate Geary (@NateGearySports) October 24, 2021
Include his 2022 earnings, and he is due as much as $125 million in three seasons alone.
Having a no-trade clause in his contract adds more security for him.
With this much money and job security going on for him, is complacency winning over Mahomes?
Patrick Mahomes has 11 turnovers this season.
That’s the most by any QB. pic.twitter.com/4wVn37sOq7
— StatMuse (@statmuse) October 24, 2021
He need not play hard because he already has his bread.
But if he’s genuinely one of the best quarterbacks at present, he will find a way to rise above his struggles.
After all, leading the Chiefs to more Super Bowls is the only way to justify his mega-deal.
NEXT: 3 Reasons Chiefs Could Miss The Postseason In 2021