Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player on Saturday, becoming the youngest player awarded the honor since Dan Marino in 1984.
The second-year phenom completed 66 percent of his passes on the year, recording 50 touchdowns on the season to only 12 interceptions, 5,097 yards, 8.8 yards-per-attempt and averaged 318 years per contest. He would lead Kansas City to a 12-4 overall record, winning them their third straight AFC West crown and led the team to the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots.
The 23-year-old also was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year, earning 30 of 50 votes for, edging out Drew Brees, DeAndre Hopkins and Todd Gurley. He becomes the first Chief since Priest Holmes in 2002 to win the award.
“I’m so humbled,” Mahomes stated. “This is just the beginning. We’ve got a long ways to go.”
It didn’t get any hotter than Mahomes this season. When he began the year with 10 total touchdowns in only two games of play to begin the regular season, you knew something special was going to happen. Special did happen as Mahomes becomes only the second player in league history to throw 50 touchdown passes and for more than 5,000 yards in a single season.
Mahomes wasn’t scared of any team nor opposing quarterback he faced all season either. The bright lights never got to him. He had not only one, but two classic games against the Patriots this season. Both times coming within moments of beating them. In addition, also had memorable moments against other teams as well this year from left handed passes to no-look passes to cross body passes. He proved that he’s going to be a mainstay in the league.
Here’s the scary part: he’s only 23 years old.
In addition, could make a case that he’s the best player in the NFL right now. Yet, what’s even scarier is that we may not have seen the best of him yet. The way that the NFL is set up now, the quarterback is protected better than any offensive line can protect a quarterback. You can’t hit like you used to as a defensive player.
So, now with those things in mind and with the weapons that he has, who’s to say he can’t through 50 touchdowns next year?
Yet… will expectations begin to get too high? What if 50 is the standard fans hold him to every season?
It’s unfair to hold a man to that because only one other man threw for 50 touchdowns. In addition, teams will game plan schematically for him and he’ll have to make those special plays like he did this season time and again. Every team will try their best to stop him.
However, if anyone can, it could be Mahones. He was consistent all year and that’s key to being an all-time great quarterback.
