Throughout the 2021 season, it’s been the storyline that won’t go away: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ struggles to deal with the way NFL defenses have countered a Kansas City offense that has averaged 30.3 points per game — more than any other team — since Mahomes became its starter in 2018. During that period, the Chiefs have compiled a regular-season record of 50-15 — also the league’s best.
But in the first half of the season, Mahomes was having trouble countering the two-high safety looks that were taking away the deep passes that had been the cornerstone of his success during his first three seasons leading the Chiefs.