Mahomes knows turnover issues must end: 'I have to cut it out'
Patrick Mahomes knows the Kansas City Chiefs won't be able to get their season back on track unless he ends his recent turnover struggles.
The star quarterback threw two interceptions, including a pick-6 early in the second half that bounced off Tyreek Hill's hands, and lost a fumble in Sunday night's 38-20 defeat to the Buffalo Bills.
"It starts with me," Mahomes said, according to ESPN's Adam Teicher. "It's something I've not usually done in my career, but I have to reevaluate where I'm at, what decisions I'm making.
"I've been a crazier player as far as scrambling and making throws. But in my career I've never been someone who throws a lot of interceptions. I have to look at it now, reevaluate what I'm doing, and I have to cut it out.''
Although Mahomes is producing his usual MVP-like numbers - an NFL-high 16 touchdowns, a 69.2% completion percentage, and 1,490 yards - the signal-caller is on pace to throw a career-worst 20 interceptions after being picked off six times in five games.
The Bills tried to frustrate Mahomes in the AFC title game rematch by limiting opportunities for the Chiefs' signature downfield plays, forcing their opponent to go on long and methodical drives to score. Buffalo's defensive game plan worked, with Mahomes producing a season-low completion percentage (61.1%) and yards per attempt (5.0).
Meanwhile, Josh Allen enjoyed arguably his best game of the season. The 2020 second-team All-Pro threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns while running for another score.
The 2-3 Chiefs sit at the bottom of the AFC West and have lost to three of their main conference competitors in the Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, and Baltimore Ravens. Kansas City also needed to engineer a dramatic comeback to beat the Cleveland Browns 33-29 in Week 1.
But after back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, Mahomes believes the Chiefs have it in them to regain their place as the AFC's favorite.
"We know we have what it takes to be great," Mahomes said. "It's a matter of coming together now and finding a way to do that.''