NFL 2023 Recap: How Patrick Mahomes Went From MVP Favorite to Fumbled Quarterback

The NFL’s angel Patrick Mahomes has broken his wings. The reigning NFL Super Bowl MVP and champion is going through the worst phase of his career. In a season that was supposed to be the Chiefs’ title defense, the team is looking more like a failed experiment in assembling top players. It’s simple: the Chiefs eat and breath revolving Mahomes, and his dip in statistics has had a direct adverse effect on the side’s hopes.

As Mahomes has fumbled in every other game in the season, the Chiefs too, have struggled to keep up pace with their Mahomes-centric offense. But what about the QB’s last season? How different it was in terms of numbers and records compared to the current one? And the most important question of all: Is Super Bowl still a possibility for the QB?

2022 Patrick Mahomes: A mythical season from an untouchable QB

The last season saw Mahomes at his best, who threw for a career-best 5250 yards, 8.1 yards/attempt, and 41 touchdowns with 12 interceptions and a passer rating of 105.2. His dominance put him 500 yards ahead of the 2nd placed Justin Herbert, 6 touchdowns ahead of the nearest rival, and earned him the league-leading 105.2 passer rating.

As a cherry on top, came the Super Bowl and the inevitable Super Bowl MVP award after his 3-touchdown, 7.8 yards/attempt, and a whopping 131.8 passer rating display. Given his constant improvement since his starting year in 2018, everyone thought the 23 Mahomes would well and truly leave humanity behind with his best form.

But that never happened.

2023 Patrick Mahomes: A story of failed hopes and disappointments

Morning shows the day. And the opening game hinted the season to come for the Chiefs. They opened it by losing the home game against the Lions 20-21. Nobody thought it was a major setback, but rather a surprise. The belief continued till week 7 when the Chiefs went 6-1. The hopes were building, and it was a 2022 recap all over, with Mahomes inching closer to back-to-back NFL MVP awards.

But things took a permanent wrong turn in a Broncos rematch on a snowy Denver evening. A flu-affected Mahomes failed to bring his A game as the Broncos stopped the defending champions with a single-digit score. The win reversed the Broncos’ season, but more importantly, it initiated a cold 2nd half for the Chiefs’ season. And it has never been the same since.

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The Chiefs have lost 4 more games since out of the 8, including a Super Bowl rematch against the Eagles. With every passing game, their offense has looked more and more toothless. And the once-neglectable problems have come front as major issues holding the side back. Without the support of an elite receiver, Mahomes has fumbled again and again, and he has looked human for the first time since 2018. Even TE Kelce admitted, “It’s the defense that’s keeping us in the games.”

Will the QB make a miraculous comeback in the postseason and run for the MVP favorite once again? Or is the season as good as doomed for the reigning champions? Only one more week left to discover.

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