Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs offense continues to get better. Somehow.
The Chiefs (3-0) easily handled the Ravens (2-1) on Monday Night Football, 34-20, and Mahomes effortlessly sorted through everything Baltimore tried to do to slow him down. A week after struggling under pressure against he Chargers, Mahomes was able to exploit blitzes — since the Ravens don’t have rushers who can get home without extra pressure — and use all of his weapons. He completed 31-of-42 passes for 385 yards and 4 TDs, in all.
Mahomes finishes the evening 16 of 20 for 202 yards and three touchdowns against the blitz.
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) September 29, 2020
Mahomes averaged 0.75 Expected Points Added per play, for a total of 36.2 over the course of the game.
Considering how well the Chiefs defense played — limiting Lamar Jackson to 97 passing yards, though his receivers did little to help him — it’s fair to say the defending Super Bowl champions are a tier above every other team in the league.
Mahomes will have rough games. And the Ravens — as well as other creative teams, such as the Chiefs next opponent, the Patriots — will adjust. But through three weeks it looks like there’s only one way to truly slow Mahomes: With an overwhelming four-man pass rush that allows for more coverage downfield. And that’s not very easy to come by.
