Kansas City Chiefs News: Patrick Mahomes No. 2 In ESPN’s QB Survey, Tyreek Hill Compares MIA-KC Offenses, More
Patrick Mahomes Takes No. 2 Spot On ESPN’s Quarterback Survey
2021 certainly wasn’t Patrick Mahomes’ best season when compared to his brilliant 2018, 2019, and 2020 campaigns, but it didn’t stop him from landing the No. 2 spot in ESPN’s latest quarterback survey.
ESPN surveyed over 50 NFL players, coaches, scouts, and executives, who submitted their lists for the top 10 quarterbacks in the game. The Kansas City Chiefs’ superstar QB finished at No. 2, behind only Green Bay Packers phenom and back-to-back league MVP Aaron Rodgers.
“I’m not worried about Patrick,” one NFC executive told ESPN “He’s proven himself. When you have an elite quarterback, you can lose pieces around you and still make it work. (Hill) is just a receiver.”
Mahomes tossed 4,839 yards and 37 touchdowns last season, though he also had a career-high 13 interceptions. His 98.5 quarterback rating wasn’t terrible by any means, but it was the lowest over his four years as a starter.
That’s how high the bar is for Mahomes, though. He fell just short of 4,900 passing yards and 40 touchdowns, led KC to a 12-5 record, and the AFC Championship Game for the fourth straight year. And yet, it was considered a “down” season for the 2018 league MVP.
There is hope that the state of Kansas will launch mobile/online sports betting by the start of the 2022 NFL season. If this happens, fans in The Wheat State will be able to enjoy the many Kansas sportsbooks promo codes which would likely include risk-free bets of up to $1,00 from FanDuel and BetMGM.
Kansas fans would also be able to place wagers on local teams like the Chiefs and Royals. At FanDuel, the Chiefs have the third-best Super Bowl odds (+950) behind only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+750) and Buffalo Bills (+650).
Tyreek Hill Sees Similarities Between Dolphins & Chiefs Offensive Units
Since being traded from the Chiefs to the Miami Dolphins, Tyreek Hill certainly hasn’t been shy in stirring the pot with debatable takes against his former team.
Last month, the 28-year-old made headlines by stating he’d take Tua Tagovailoa “all day” over Mahomes when it comes to accuracy. Now, the six-time Pro Bowler is comparing Miami’s offense to the juggernaut he starred in for six years.
“That 2019 offense with the Chiefs was stupid,” Hill said on his “It Needed To Be Said” podcast (h/t Christopher Scarglato of the New York Post). “When I go out to practice each and every day as I said, I see the same exact team. I swear. As far explosive, as far as dynamic, we have the same weapons.”
In March, the Chiefs traded Hill to Miami in a massive package deal that netted KC five draft picks which included 2022 first and second-rounders. The Dolphins then handed Hill a massive four-year extension worth $120 million.
Hill has hit the 1,000-yard mark in four of his six NFL seasons. He has a whopping career total of 56 receiving touchdowns, including 24 over the last two years.
“When you add (head coach) Mike McDaniel into calling plays, I know Andy Reid is great, but when you add (McDaniel) it’s crazy,” Hill said, per Scarglato. “The way he dials up plays and his play-calling timing, I don’t even know what to say, it’s just crazy.”
Hill isn’t the only notable name that joined Miami’s offense this offseason. GM Chris Grier also signed former Dallas Cowboys standout receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. in free agency, and he bolstered the offensive line by signing Connor Williams (another former Cowboy) and longtime New Orleans Saints mainstay Terron Armstead.
The rushing game also figures to improve following the additions of Raheem Mostert (who worked with McDaniel in San Francisco), Chase Edmonds, and two-time Super Bowl champion Sony Michel.
Hill and second-year wideout Jaylen Waddle figure to make up the NFL’s fastest receiving duo in 2022. But will Hill be able to put up All-Pro numbers without arguably the game’s NFL-best quarterback? That’s a top storyline to follow closely throughout the year.
Travis Kelce’s Hilarious Response To Raiders Fans
Chief superstar tight end Travis Kelce was among the many star athletes who competed at the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nevada.
Kelce was actually heckled by several fans of the rival Las Vegas Raiders on the 18th hole of the tournament. The future Hall of Famer, however, had an epic response, via Carter Eckl of the Nevada News Group.
“I tell Raiders fans all the time, I love them,” Kelce said. “I love seeing them because I know I’m getting a dub and 200 yards.”
For his career, Kelce has 87 catches for 1,226 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games against the Raiders, per Pro Football Reference. On top of that, the Chiefs have won 13 of the 16 games against the AFC West foe with Kelce in the lineup.
The Chiefs swept the Raiders in the season series a year ago, and it turned out to be a major difference for the AFC West crown (KC took it by two games).
Kansas City will host Las Vegas on Monday Night Football in Week 5 (8:15 p.m. EST) and again in the regular season finale (Week 18 on Jan. 8, location to be determined).
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