The Kansas City Chiefs have a football game this week, as Patrick Mahomes is set to battle Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in a marquee season opening matchup.
After months of anticipation, the atmosphere will feel like a playoff game, although Week 1 will match Week 10 or Week 14’s importance in the record column.
How well will Mahomes play and will he win the game? Here’s a look at three big predictions for the quarterback on Thursday.
Isaiah Pacheco earns more touchdowns than Patrick Mahomes
Isiah Pacheco saw a breakout with the Chiefs last season. This year, he also will start off strong in a big spot. Mahomes will throw for two touchdowns and an interception in the contest. While a decent start to the season, it will pale in comparison to Pacheco. Mahomes will be responsible for 14 total points while Pacheco will be responsible for 21 total points.
Between the newly reshuffled wide receiver room and Travis Kelce’s continued march toward fatherhood, Mahomes will learn about his new offense at a slower pace than Pacheco.
Patrick Mahomes attempts behind the back pass
Mahomes went viral in the preseason for throwing a pass behind his back in a game. The pass was completed to Kelce, giving fans what they wanted. Encouraged by the moment, Mahomes will try the pass again. Whether it falls incomplete or in the hands of a defender is (literally) up in the air. However, Mahomes will try the pass to the amazement of the game’s commentary team.
Opening game loss
Mahomes will open up an 0-1 record in back-to-back seasons after the first game of the year. Some fans will panic while analysts will point toward last season. Last year, Mahomes lost the first game of the season to the Detroit Lions. By the end of the year, he had hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.
That said, some will ask whether this is the beginning of the end for Patrick Mahomes’ legendary run.
Rest assured, this will not be the end of his NFL career. However, it will serve as a wake-up call to some of the players on the Kansas City Chiefs’ championship roster that they can lose if they sleepwalk at the professional level.
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