Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes is the NFL MVP favorite. Here’s where he thinks he’s improved

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes wants to take you back to Week 5. To a pass play when he looked down the sideline to teammates Xavier Worthy and Brashard Smith, but neither broke open.

What happened next, he says, is a calculated change — and also part of the reason, through seven weeks, he has elevated himself to the favorite for NFL MVP in betting markets.

In 2024, he would’ve looked for a checkdown pass here. Or perhaps to scramble to pick up whatever yards he could.

This time, however, Mahomes made it to his third read while buying time in the pocket.

And saw receiver Tyquan Thornton running free downfield.

“In previous years, I would have never even looked over there to Tyquan,” Mahomes said Wednesday, “because the coverage dictated that it was not going to be open.”

Instead of a minimal gain, Mahomes getting to Thornton resulted in a deep second-quarter pass — and a 34-yard completion.

It’s this sort of sequence, Mahomes says, that he’s worked so hard to create this year after some self-evaluation this past offseason.

The takeaway for Mahomes after that reflection? He was actually overanalyzing on too many plays.

Mahomes said last season, he was obsessed with playing the game perfectly before the snap. That meant if he saw the defense was about to play a certain way, he’d decide beforehand not to throw to specific routes.

“It’s like, ‘I know the coverage it is. I know this route’s not supposed to be open.’ So I would just move on,” Mahomes said. “I went back and watched the film this last year, and I was like, ‘I can’t give (defenses) too much credit.'”

Reviewing the film only solidified something in Mahomes’ mind: Defenders make mistakes. Not only that, certain defensive backs might have zone coverage responsibilities, but they also might shift their plan post-snap if their instincts kick in to do something else.

“They’re going to be trying to make plays, just like I’m trying to make plays,” Mahomes said. “And so go through your progression, go through your read, simplify and just play fast. And I think that’s really helped me out this year.”

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It certainly worked against the Jaguars.

Thornton’s role was to clear out coverage on his 34-yard reception, and based on Mahomes’ pre-snap look, the Jaguars defense should’ve eliminated his route as an option.

But things changed. Defenders scrambled to places that no one could’ve predicted.

And Mahomes connected on an explosive play made possible thanks to his offseason focus.

“At the end of the day, you’ve got to go out there and play football,” Mahomes said. “And I think we’ve done that to start this year off, and I feel like it’s giving me confidence to be who I am.”

That player has been one of the league leaders statistically so far.

Mahomes, through the Chiefs’ 4-3 start, has passed for 1,800 yards with 14 touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s also helped the Chiefs score on 52 percent of their offensive possessions per TruMedia, which is the team’s best mark since Mahomes’ first year as a starter, in 2018.

There are some other simpler reasons that Mahomes says he’s felt so comfortable lately. One is that K.C.’s offensive line has excelled in pass protection, which has given him more confidence to sit in the pocket and get through his reads.

The Chiefs are also healthy again, and just last week, they welcomed back receiver Rashee Rice from a six-game suspension. Mahomes says having familiarity with his wideouts has only helped him speed up his processing.

“It makes my job easier whenever you know that what you think before the play is going to happen happens,” Mahomes said, “and the guys get open.”

WORTHY JUMP BALL 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/yaPbMMG9SE

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) October 19, 2025

Chiefs coach Andy Reid had effusive praise for Mahomes after the Chiefs’ 31-0 home victory on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Reid said the team prepares many offensive schemes each week to try to throw off defenses. Against Las Vegas, the strategy included three-step drops, five-step drops, screen concepts and different movements on play-action passes.

Knowing that background, Reid says, makes it all the more impressive when Mahomes executes all the phases of the Chiefs offense.

“We ask him to do so much stuff, and then just look at his game,” Reid said. “Look at his numbers and how he contributes, how he gets everybody on the offense involved.”

Mahomes completed passes to nine receivers Sunday before exiting late in the third quarter with the game well in hand.

When asked his thoughts on Mahomes’ standing among NFL quarterbacks, Reid said, “I think he’s the best,” while acknowledging he’s biased.

“His leadership, I think, is second to none,” Reid said.

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Mahomes, who just turned 30 last month, said part of what’s benefited him early this year is the trust he has with people in the Chiefs organization.

He can now see the vision for a season, even when the team is going through tough times. When the Chiefs were missing injured receivers early this season, for instance, Mahomes said he understood that giving Thornton and Hollywood Brown more reps would eventually help the team later.

Something else that’s helped him progress? Finding the right balance in his play.

Mahomes believes there have been times in his career when he’s been too aggressive. Other moments, he swung too far in the other direction and became too risk-averse.

But now, while leading an offense that appears to be ascending toward the top of the NFL?

“I’m just going out there and just playing,” Mahomes said. “Just having fun, going through my progressions, making reads and not trying to overthink things.”