Patrick Mahomes has one big goal in mind for the Kansas City Chiefs’ first preseason game.
While most superstars are not expected to play in their first preseason games, Patrick Mahomes will be under center for about a quarter on Saturday evening, as his Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara.
This is all about Mahomes and the rest of the Chiefs starters get acclimated to playing in front of an entirely new offensive line. Keep in mind that offensive line issues were the biggest reason the Chiefs lost Super Bowl LV to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in February. While it may not be in a game that counts for anything, these reps are precious for Kansas City, and Mahomes knows this.
“I think just going out there and executing, in and out of the huddle, making the right calls, getting the ball out of my hands, making some plays happen,” said Mahomes in a Thursday press conference.
“You always like to score, but at the end of the day I think if the communication, the procedures in and out of the huddle with so many new guys especially on that offensive line, I think that would be a win for me just throughout this first game.”
Patrick Mahomes share his biggest goal for the Chiefs’ first preseason game
Per Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star, the Chiefs have been rolling with Orlando Brown, Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith and Lucas Niang from left tackle to right tackle. Humphrey and Smith are rookies, and Niang might as well be, as he opted out of 2020. Brown and Thuney played elsewhere last season. So nobody on the Chiefs offense has played with them before.
Ultimately, the Chiefs are loaded at the most important skill positions offensively and have been one of the better units defensively for the better part of two seasons. This is why they will be favored to win the AFC for the third year in a row. However, nothing will unravel a promising season faster than an offensive line that resembles a wet paper bag. It all hinges in the trenches.
Though the Chiefs have a ton of talent along the offensive line, the unite needs to rack up the reps.