The Kansas City Chiefs are 3-4 and tied for third place in the AFC West division.
They have not played as well as many expected the defending AFC Champions would.
To be fair, the Chiefs’ losses have come to playoff-caliber teams.
They are the Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills, and Tennessee Titans.
However, there are problems on both offense and defense.
It is not time to panic yet, but the Chiefs need to turn things around soon because that AFC West division is extremely competitive.
The Las Vegas Raiders and the Los Angeles Chargers are 5-2 and 4-2 respectively.
The AFC West-leading Raiders 👀 pic.twitter.com/JhlSo2pAJ1
— FOX Bet Sportsbook (@FOXBet) October 24, 2021
Patrick Mahomes called into the Rich Eisen Show, and he seemingly identified the Chiefs’ biggest problem.
What Is It?
In Mahomes’ mind, it is execution.
He believes the talent is there, but the execution has not been.
“It’s just execution. I believe we have the players, have the coaches, to do whatever we really want.”
"It's just execution. I believe we have the players, have the coaches, to do whatever we really want."@Chiefs QB @PatrickMahomes told us on the @mbvansusa phone line how he isn't concerned with the team's 3-4 start:#ChiefsKingdom#NFL #MBVans pic.twitter.com/rvzyVUJfVb
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) October 26, 2021
Mahomes is probably not oversimplifying and is right on the offensive side of the ball.
However, there is a school of thought that even though he does not play defense, he is trying to overcompensate for a less than proficient defense.
How Would Mahomes Overcompensate?
Tough stretch for Patrick Mahomes
— Leads NFL with 9 INTs (tied with Zach Wilson)
— Six straight games with a pick (longest of career)
— 16 INTs in 16 games
— 2 turnovers today
— Down 27-0 at halftime to Titans pic.twitter.com/twecOqIUW3— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 24, 2021
To begin with, the Chiefs defense is giving up a lot of points.
The Chiefs have the most points against them of any team in the AFC West, at 203.
Second to them in points against is the Raiders at 166; that is a big disparity.
When Mahomes finally gets the ball and is out on the field, he is trying to get points on the board as quickly as possible.
He is trying to make things happen perhaps to a point where it is causing him to not make the best decisions.
Hence, he is looking the most unlike his former MVP self that we have seen in recent years.
Get Things Right Against The Giants
The time to fix issues is Week 8 against the New York Giants.
Because after that, the Chiefs have three weeks of top-notch opponents in the Green Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders, and Dallas Cowboys.
We will know a lot more about who this Chiefs team really is and what their role may be in the postseason after that three-game stretch.
Watch the Chiefs take on the Giants on Monday Night Football on ESPN on November 1, 2021.
NEXT: Patrick Mahomes Not Looking Like His Past Self