After Monday night’s loss to the Eagles, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was asked multiple questions about multiple dropped passes, but he refused to criticize his receivers.
Perhaps the biggest drop was the deep ball to Marquez Valdes-Scantling that could have been a game-winning touchdown. Mahomes hit Valdes-Scantling in 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 triple-teamed Travis [Kelce] so I went to the guy that won downfield and Marquez won. He just didn’t come away with the ball. I could probably have thrown it a little shorter, he was that open,” Mahomes said.
Mahomes’ last pass, to Justin Watson on fourth-and-25 on the Chiefs’ final offensive play, hit Watson for what should have been about a 27-yard gain, but the ball went through Watson’s hands. Mahomes said his receivers know he remains confident in them despite plays like that.
“They know I’m gonna keep firing it,” Mahomes said. “Usually they’re going to make the plays. It happens.”
Mahomes repeatedly declined to say dropped passes were the Chiefs’ problems.
“That didn’t just lose the game, there was a lot of stuff that happened,” Mahomes said. “It starts with me. I’ve got 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’s confident the offense can play better.
“I know how hard the guys work at the end of the day,” Mahomes said. “We’ve had spurts where we’ve played good football offensively. All you can do is go to work and keep getting better.”
Mahomes is continuing to play at an MVP level, but his receivers need to go to work and get a lot better.