The Kansas City Chiefs started the 2023 NFL season with a loss, albeit they later bounced back to their mighty form with consecutive wins. Following Week 13, the defending champions had four defeats, three of which came in their last five games.
The Chiefs recent downfall has been a huge blow to their chances of winning the top spot in the AFC standings. They now trail the Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens in competition for a first-round bye in the playoffs. As the team is struggling poorly in recent games, NFL analyst Jason Whitlock threw subtle jabs at its quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce for their role in the field.
Jason Whitlock blames Travis Kelce for Chiefs”mediocre season’
Following Aaron Rodgers era in the Green Bay Packers, quarterback Jordan Love has been leading the team strongly following a tumultuous start and has given a 19-27 loss to the Chiefs. Following the Week 13 defeat, the defending champions have been facing constant criticism from the NFL community due to their competitively lackluster performance.
Speaking on his show Fearless this week, Jason Whitlock discussed how the defending champion team is having a ‘mediocre season’. The team’s receiving unit, outside of Kelce, has raised eyebrows due to dropping passes poorly and lack of separation.
The veteran said Mahomes might have “got some excuses” with Tyreek Hill no longer being his receiver in the Chiefs. Hill, now a Miami Dolphins star, is doing a phenomenal job this season. Besides backing up his quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in social media, he has been demonstrating a top-notch combination with the signal-caller on the field, something Pat is not enjoying now.
“He’s (Patrick Mahomes) having a mediocre season, he’s a bit satisfied right now, his tight end is a bit distracted right now, he doesn’t have Tyreek Hill, and so he’s got some excuses and going through the motions”, he said per YardBarker.
Though Travis has been doing his part at the best by recording 813 yards for the season for the Chiefs this season, Whitlock said the TE is “distracted” right now.
“His tight end is a bit distracted right now,” Whitlock said of the Chiefs TE.
Kelce has become the fastest TE to 11,000 yards in NFL history, and despite grappling with injuries lately, his dominance on the field has been laudable.
Jason Whitlock blasts Patrick Mahomes with Tom Brady comparison
Since assuming the helm for the Chiefs, Mahomes has undeniably set the NFL ablaze, hoisting two Lombardi Trophies last five seasons. Yet, amidst the soaring success, a critical voice in the form of Jason Whitlock recently weighed in, casting doubts on the QB’s ability to rival the monumental career of Tom Brady. His critique revolved more around the premise that the Chiefs star lacks Tom Brady’s unrelenting hunger.
“I wanted to say this about Patrick Mahomes – what we’re finding out. Talented, Hall of Fame quarterback, going to go down in history as one of the top 10 quarterbacks, maybe top 5 of all time… But he does not have Tom Brady’s drive,”
The NFL analyst mentioned the disparity in the player’s draft experiences as a catalyst. He described how TB12’s ascent from a sixth-round pick, perennially fueled by an underdog’s fervor, contrasts with Pat’s first-round selection, potentially cushioning him from the relentless pursuit of greatness.
“Winning isn’t as important to him as it was for Tom Brady. Some of that has to do with Mahomes was a first-round pick, the [Kansas City] Chiefs went up to get him I think in the top 10 of the draft, Tom Brady – chip on his shoulder, sixth-round pick, always had that chip on his shoulder.
The veteran’s narrative unfurled further as he shed light on Mahomes’ comfort zone, attributing it to the Chiefs’ satisfaction and his rapid accumulation of multiple accolades. He also highlighted the absence of a perennial rival similar to Brady’s ongoing tussles with Peyton Manning.
“The Chiefs and Mahomes are a bit satisfied. Pat Mahomes is in any commercial he wants to be in, he’s got two MVPs, two Super Bowls – he doesn’t have a peer. Take Brady, he was always competing with Peyton Manning. Who is Patrick Mahomes competing with? Nobody. Patrick Mahomes isn’t Tom Brady.”
Moving toward statistical scrutiny, Mahomes’ passing yardage has dwindled this season, registering at 260.6 yards per game, his lowest since 2018. Besides that, his quarterback rating has plunged to 69.7, a departure from his earlier stellar performances.
