One throw illustrates how Chiefs' 23-year-old rookie quarterback Patrick Mahomes is already lighting up the NFL
- Patrick Mahomes is the breakout star of the 2018 NFL season thus far.
- The Chiefs quarterback, who had only made one start coming into the year, set an NFL record after throwing 13 touchdowns through the first three weeks.
- One throw Mahomes made on Sunday encapsulated why so many are high on his future potential.
Three weeks into the 2018 NFL season, the Kansas City Chiefs offense looks absolutely unstoppable.
Leading the way for the Chiefs is Patrick Mahomes, who had just one NFL start under his belt before taking over for Kansas City with the departure of Alex Smith.
The move has worked out brilliantly for the Chiefs so far, with Mahomes throwing 13 touchdowns through the first three weeks of the season - more than any other quarterback in NFL history.
There's plenty to love about the skill that Mahomes - the 10th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft - has shown through the early going of the season. His arm is incredible, as shown on his deep balls to Tyreek Hill, and his accuracy has been phenomenal across the board, having not given up an interception yet this year.
But what might stand out more than anything is Mahomes' vision and escapability, both of which seem far more developed than you would expect from a player with just four NFL starts.
During the Chiefs win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Mahomes made one play that encapsulated why his name is already being discussed in early MVP conversations.
On third-and-goal, the Chiefs offensive line got blown back off the snap, forcing Mahomes to retreat 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage to keep the play alive.
Under normal circumstances, a young quarterback running risking a 20-yard loss in the red zone to save a broken play would be a risk you wouldn't want to see them take, but Mahomes pulled it off.
After one final turn, Mahomes kept his eyes downfield and eventually found receiver Chris Conley in the corner of the end zone to extend Kansas City's lead to 21-7.
The Chiefs would go on to win the game 38-27, and the team's offense, lead by Mahomes, is now averaging almost 40 points per game.
Next week, Mahomes will head to Denver to face a Broncos defense that should present his toughest challenge yet in his young career, but based on what he's shown the first few weeks of the season, he shouldn't have a problem.