KC Chiefs’ Mahomes, Kelce, Reid all have some notable milestones in reach this season
The beginning of the NFL season renews the pursuit of milestones.
And, yes, Patrick Mahomes’ legs must get tired from all the chasing he does.
Here are some of the latest records that he, tight end Travis Kelce and their Chiefs teammates — as well as head coach Andy Reid — could soon own, and some lists they could climb this fall.
Patrick Mahomes, quarterback:
With 4,500 passing yards and 35 touchdowns, Mahomes will become the fourth player to reach those benchmarks at least four times in his career. The others: Tom Brady (five), Drew Brees (four) and Peyton Manning (four). Mahomes has produced 4,500/35 seasons in all three years he’s played at least 15 games.
With 4,000 passing yards, Mahomes will join Manning as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to reach that production in five of his first six years. Remember, Mahomes played just one game in his first season.
Mahomes could also remain the NFL’s career leader in passer rating (105.8), a list that favors the 21st century and young quarterbacks. Of the top eight passers on this list, seven are active — and the eighth, Brees, recently retired. All but two of the top 39 played into the 2000s. If the Chargers’ Justin Herbert had enough attempts to qualify, he’d rank eighth, and along with the Broncos’ Russell Wilson at fourth, the AFC West would have three of the best ever in that category. The Raiders’ Derek Carr enters the season No. 17 all time.
Mahomes is 50-13 as a starting quarterback, and his winning percentage (.794) is the best among active quarterbacks who have made at least 10 starts.
With 2,264 passing yards and 23 touchdown passes, Mahomes will have the most by any player in his first 75 games.
One more for No. 15: Mahomes’ career postseason passer rating of 105.7 is nearly identical to his regular-season number in this category. But he trails on that list. Buffalo’s Josh Allen, coming off his amazing playoff run in which he threw nine touchdowns with no interceptions, leads in this category at 106.6.
Travis Kelce, tight end:
Speaking of the postseason, Kelce has zoomed up the receiving charts and now stands third in career playoff receptions and touchdowns.
Kelce has played what would amount to a season’s worth of postseason games — 15 — and against playoff competition, he’s put up what amounts to the best season of his career: 106 receptions, 12 touchdowns and 1,291 yards. That is remarkable production in the highest-pressure situations.
With 96 receptions, Kelce will become the fifth tight end with 800 catches for his career.
He also needs 994 yards to reach 10,000. Tony Gonzalez, the former Chief, tops both lists — catches by a tight end, and yards by a tight end.
A 1,000-yard season in terms of receiving will make Kelce the first tight end with seven seasons of at least 1,000 yards
Kelce needs just four games of at least 100 yards to surpass Rob Gronkowski (32) for the most 100-yard games as a tight end.
Andy Reid, head coach
Reid has amassed 16 seasons with 10 or more victories. If the Chiefs post their eighth straight season of double-digit wins in 2022, Reid will stand behind only Bill Belichick (20) and Don Shula (20) on that list.
Only two coaches, Belichick (20) and George Seifert (eight), have won at least 10 games in eight straight seasons.
Chiefs as a team:
The Chiefs’ six straight AFC West titles matches the third-longest streak in NFL/AFL history. Next on the list is seven straight, by the L.A. Rams from 1973-79. The leader is New England. The Patriots won 11 straight from 2009-19. The crazy thing is the Pats had won five straight before Tom Brady was injured in 2008 and the Miami Dolphins won the AFC East. So it was 16 out of 17 years for the Patriots.
The Chiefs’ four straight appearances in the AFC title game is also tied for third. The Oakland Raiders went to five straight starting in 1973. The Patriots started an eight-year streak in 2011.
Sources: Pro-football-reference.com and 2022 Official NFL Record and Fact Book
