Kepala 'frustrasi', Patrick Mahomes mencari jawaban setelah start 0-2 pertama
KANSAS CITY — This is fairly new territory for the Chiefs.
Sunday’s 20-17 loss to the Eagles put the Chiefs at 0-2 to open the 2025 season. In the first seven years with Patrick Mahomes as their starting quarterback, they were more likely to take their second loss in January (twice) than in September (once), enjoying their dynastic success from the very start of most seasons.
The only thing close to this early struggle came back in 2021, when the Chiefs lost two of their first three games and opened the year 3-4 before ultimately finishing the regular season 12-5. It also stands out as the only year in the last six that they didn’t play in the Super Bowl, losing to the Cincinnati Bengals in the conference championship game.
So, you might understand it if the Chiefs aren’t sure how to handle not being their usual dominant selves.
“I think it’s a little frustrated,” defensive tackle Chris Jones said of the locker-room vibe after the loss. “We’re all very competitive, and we all want to win, but we’re still 0-2. A lot of players holding themselves accountable. We’re a competitive team, we’re eager to figure this thing out and get back on the right track.”
Their two losses have come against playoff teams from last season, first to the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil and then the defending Super Bowl champs at Arrowhead. But some of the mistakes have come from their best and most proven players. A costly fourth-quarter interception at the goal line went off the hands of tight end Travis Kelce, turning a potential lead into an eventual 10-point deficit.
“We played two good football teams and made mistakes in big moments – stuff that we’re not used to doing,” Mahomes said. “But I think we’re coming together as a team, man. I mean, when you deal with adversity, it’s about how you deal with it, and obviously, this isn’t how we wanted to start. But how are we going to respond? So, I’m excited for the next few weeks to see who wants to be challenged and how we can get back and really get after it.”
Travis Kelce’s drop in the end zone that led to an interception for Eagles safety Andrew Mukuba swung Sunday’s game out of the Chiefs’ favor. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Mahomes set the bar impossibly high for himself with his play at the start of his career. In his first five years as a starter from 2018-22, he had a combined 35 touchdowns and zero interceptions in the first two weeks of seasons. In the last three years, that total is just nine touchdowns and six interceptions. Eventually, that will turn wins into losses, especially against good competition.
“I’ll take full responsibility for that game, would probably say too aggressive on that and that’s my responsibility,” coach Andy Reid said. “I thought my guys played their tail off and played hard and aggressive football. And they stuck together throughout the game and that’ll pay [off] bagi kami di ujung jalan saat kami terus tumbuh. “
Dua pertandingan adalah ukuran sampel yang kecil, tetapi Chiefs belum terlihat bagus, terutama karena pelanggaran. Mereka ke -25 di liga dalam penilaian, 26 pada turun ketiga dan ke -28 dalam efisiensi zona merah. Mereka adalah salah satu dari tujuh tim NFL yang belum memaksakan pergantian, dan secara defensif, mereka ke -25 dalam upaya per pass, memberikan rata -rata 7,11.
Tom Brady menghancurkan kemenangan Eagles melawan Chiefs
Tahun lalu, meskipun rekor 15-2, Chiefs menunjukkan tanda-tanda bahwa penurunan bisa menjadi lebih dulu. Dari 2018-23, Chiefs mengungguli lawan mereka dengan setidaknya 111 poin setiap musim. Namun, pada tahun 2024, mereka hanya memiliki keunggulan 57 poin, hanya setengah dominan seperti dalam enam tahun sebelumnya. Bahwa mereka memenangkan pertandingan dekat yang secara konsisten adalah titik rapat umum sampai ke Super Bowl, tetapi kekalahan mereka yang miring ke Eagles di sana menempatkan masa depan dalam pertanyaan mereka yang dipertanyakan.
Bagaimana para pemimpin menanggapi? Mereka memiliki apa yang seharusnya menjadi pertandingan yang dapat dimenangkan pada Minggu malam di New York Giants, yang juga 0-2, sebelum pratinjau playoff potensial lainnya dengan Baltimore Ravens datang ke Arrowhead. Mereka entah bagaimana satu-satunya tim AFC West tanpa kemenangan, dan sementara mereka memiliki waktu berbulan-bulan untuk naik di klasemen, masing-masing kekalahan membuatnya lebih sulit bagi playoff untuk melewati Kansas City, mengingat bahwa 14 dari 16 pertandingan playoff mangkuk non-super Mahomes telah ada di rumah.
“Mengenal orang -orang di ruang ganti, kawan, saya pikir mereka hanya akan merespons dengan bekerja,” kata Mahomes. “Begitulah cara kami sampai pada titik yang telah kami lakukan dan karier kami di sini di Kansas City, adalah bahwa kami percaya pekerjaan semacam itu mengeluarkan produk.
“Jelas, kami belum pernah 0-2, tetapi kami memiliki saat-saat di mana kami telah menghadapi tantangan sebelumnya dan kehilangan permainan. Saya pikir orang-orang yang kami miliki di ruang ganti ini akan kembali bekerja dengan pola pikir itu, 'Kami akan terus bekerja lebih keras,' sehingga ketika kami menginjak bidang ini di waktu berikutnya, kami dapat menemukan cara untuk memenangkan momen-momen besar, 'seperti yang belum kami lakukan di bidang ini.
Greg Auman adalah reporter NFL untuk Fox Sports. Dia sebelumnya menghabiskan satu dekade menutupi Buccaneers untuk Tampa Bay Waktu dan atletis. Anda dapat mengikutinya di Twitter di @Gregrauman.
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