Bad News Keeps Coming for Patrick Mahomes After Chiefs Loss
The Kansas City Chiefs are watching their season slip away as they fall further from a playoff spot, and Patrick Mahomes could be seeing a personal accolade going with it.
The Chiefs looked to rebound from their loss to the Buffalo Bills, getting a bye week to prepare for a critical divisional matchup with the Denver Broncos. But the Chiefs struggled to find consistency on offense and stalled out at the end of the game, allowing the Broncos to get a come-from-behind win.
The 22-19 loss may have sealed any hopes of another division title, while also putting a third MVP award out of reach for Mahomes.
Patrick Mahomes Drops in MVP Standings
Mahomes was briefly seen as a frontrunner for the MVP award after leading the Chiefs to five wins in six games, but the team has since hit a wall. Back-to-back losses dropped them to 5-5, while Mahomes fell to fifth place on the MVP ladder.
USA Today reporter Jack McKessy noted that Mahomes now ranks behind favorite Matthew Stafford as well as Drake Maye, Josh Allen, and Jonathan Taylor in the latest MVP odds.
“Mahomes’ odds to win a third MVP award dipped in Week 11,” McKessy wrote. “The Chiefs’ offense struggled against the Broncos’ mighty defense in the loss on the road. Kansas City’s quarterback finished the game 29-of-45 for 276 yards, one touchdown and an interception.”
Allen was behind Mahomes going into Week 11, but his six-touchdown performance in a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vaulted him ahead of the Chiefs quarterback — while the win made it even more difficult for Kansas City to compete for a postseason berth.
Patrick Mahomes Takes Responsibility for Chiefs Loss
Mahomes put the blame on himself for Sunday’s loss, saying he needs to be more consistent. He threw an interception and watched the team go three-and-out on each of their final two drives, giving the Broncos chances to tie and then win the game with field-goal drives.
Mahomes said his inability to make throws has been killing drives.
“I think we’re really talented and we’ve got a lot of great players, but it’s about being more consistent. I think it starts with me,” Mahomes told reporters after the game, via SI.com. “There’s times where I’m firing and we’re moving the ball down the field at ease. But there’s times where we go in spurts where I miss a throw or a [pass] protection call.
“We haven’t been consistent enough to win games. It starts with me.”
The Chiefs — seen briefly as Super Bowl favorites after getting back to 5-3 — will now face a challenge in climbing back into the playoff picture. The loss dropped them four wins behind the Broncos for the lead in the AFC West and created a difficult path to a wild-card spot. All three teams currently holding wild cards — Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, and Jacksonville Jaguars — have beaten the Chiefs.
The Chiefs also currently lose the conference tie-breaker to the Houston Texans, the next team back from a playoff spot at 5-5.
Bills Address Keon Coleman’s Future Status After Benching
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Sean McDermott kept it real when discussing Keon Coleman's future with the Bills after his latest benching
The Buffalo Bills got back in the win column in Week 11, as they picked up a 44-32 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While the Bills eventually pulled away late, there was some drama along the way, as they trailed for a decent portion of this game. There was also some drama before the game involving wide receiver Keon Coleman.
The talented second-year pass catcher was a healthy scratch for this game after he was late to a team meeting during the week, marking the third time he has been disciplined by the team in his young career. Ahead of Week 12, head coach Sean McDermott addressed Coleman’s future with the team, as he continues to struggle to stay out of trouble.
Sean McDermott Dishes on Keon Coleman
The Bills selected Coleman with the first pick of the second round in the 2024 NFL Draft, and he put together a solid rookie campaign, catching 29 passes for 556 yards and four touchdowns. With Buffalo needing a true No. 1 pass catcher to step up for Josh Allen, the team had high hopes for Coleman entering this season.
Instead, Coleman’s season has been marred by disciplinary issues. Earlier this year, Coleman was benched for the first series of the team’s Week 5 loss to the New England Patriots. Last season, Coleman was benched for the first quarter of the team’s clash with the Jacksonville Jaguars, so this isn’t exactly the first time he has found himself in this situation.
When he’s been on the field, Coleman hasn’t taken a step forward either, as he has 32 catches for 330 yards and three touchdowns this season. It’s clear that something needs to change in this partnership, because the current setup is not working. On Monday, McDermott kept it real when discussing how the team will move forward with Coleman after his latest disciplinary incident.
“There are different paths or journeys,” McDermott said when discussing Coleman’s latest benching. “Do we want it to have happened before now? Yes. He would tell you the same thing. The important piece is that he learns from this and he grows from this. You grow from it, we can move forward. If you don’t grow from it, it’s hard to move forward.”
What Should the Bills Do with Keon Coleman?
GettyKeon Coleman #0 of the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills are at a fork in the road with Coleman. While his upside is clear as day, he hasn’t come close to reaching his potential, both on and off the field. It’s still early, but at some point, things need to change for him. If he continues to violate the team’s rules, there could come a point in time when the front office decides to move on from him.
For the time being, though, McDermott and the rest of the team are committed to helping Coleman become the best version of himself. That will start with getting back on the field in Week 12, as the team has a short week upcoming. Buffalo will square off against the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football, with kickoff being scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET.
