Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense look like they’ve been replaced with imposters.
This is far from the dominant unit that has long struck fear in opposing defenses.
They struggled mightily during the team’s 20-14 Christmas Day loss to the Raiders, which marked the Chiefs’ fifth loss in the last eight games as they fell to 9-6.
Mahomes threw for 235 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Legendary former quarterback Kurt Warner, now an analyst with NFL Network, believes it’s the worst the Chiefs offense has ever looked with Mahomes at the helm.
“Watched #Chiefs O & could have been worst overall game by this O in Mahomes era [sic],” Warner posted on X. “1st credit #RaidersD who out-coached & out played KC, 2nd KC was bad everywhere PM2 missed reads & throws, concepts were confusing, got manhandled upfront, etc… it’s getting late ppl!!”
Mahomes was seen getting agitated on the sideline, as has become commonplace in recent weeks during the team’s struggles.
At one point, he shouted at several members of his offensive line.
Mahomes was sacked four times and was under heavy pressure throughout the game.
The loss, combined with the Ravens’ win over the 49ers, ended any chance of the Chiefs securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC and delayed them clinching the AFC West, though they can still clinch the division next week against the Bengals.
“There were just mistakes, offensively,” Mahomes said after the game. “The defense played a good game. … “You see glimpses of us moving the football. You see glimpses of us scoring in the red zone. It’s just we haven’t done it consistently enough, game in, game out. We have one good game, one bad game, one good game, one bad game.
“We have to be more consistent because when you get to the playoffs you have to string some together. So, I think our focus this week is how can we get better against Cincinnati and find a way to beat a good football team.”
A fumble by Isaiah Pacheco, which was returned for a touchdown by Bilal Nichols, and a pick-six thrown by Mahomes, returned by Jack Jones, allowed the Raiders to score 14 points in less than 10 seconds in the first half.
“We’ve got to clean it up,” Mahomes said. “We’ve got two games left. We have to do it and if we don’t we’ll be going home. So, if we clean it up we can beat anybody, but we have to prove we can do it.”