Mahomes eyes improvement as Broncos, Lock visit Chiefs

The last three performances by Patrick Mahomes have been quite pedestrian by the standards the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback set a year ago, when he earned MVP honors in the NFL. Mahomes passed for three touchdowns collectively, with two interceptions, while going 60 of 101 for an average of 213.3 yards.

Yet the Chiefs (9-4) won each game and clinched a fourth consecutive AFC West title. Now they are competing for seeding in the playoffs, beginning with a Sunday clash at home against the Denver Broncos (5-8). While Kansas City is ecstatic that its defense is stepping up to play a vital role, its quarterback is being harsh on himself.

"It's just not execution at a high enough level, and it starts with me,'' said Mahomes, who bruised his throwing hand Sunday vs. the Patriots but practiced in full on Wednesday. "It's how I've always been, ever since I was in high school. I kind of rely on my arm and these back-foot throws. Those are all cool, but you want to make sure you're still doing the fundamentals.'' He will do so within the framework of the entire playbook, to hear Andy Reid tell it. The Chiefs coach insisted he will not shape a game plan with an eye on the playoffs by holding anything back over the last three weeks of the regular season.

"It's full steam ahead. That's how we roll,'' Reid said. "As far as saving plays, we've got enough plays. We shouldn't have to save any. You go play, and if you want another one, we've got a pretty good file.'' A case in point came last Sunday in the Chiefs' 23-16 win at New England. Travis Kelce scored on a 4-yard rush off an RPO as the quarterback in the Wildcat formation. Yes, the same Kelce who needs just 11 yards to become the first tight end in NFL history with four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons as a receiver.

Although Kansas City has won eight straight against Denver and dropped only two of its last 27 matchups against division rivals -- including a 30-6 rout at Denver on Oct. 17 -- the Broncos are 2-0 since rookie quarterback Drew Lock was inserted as starter. Lock, a second-round pick out of Missouri, is from Lee's Summit, Mo., not far from Arrowhead Stadium. He passed for 443 yards in wins over the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans, with a completion percentage of .727.

"I think we'll all make a little too much of it," Lock said Wednesday about returning home. "It's just another football game. I've got to prep like I did the first two weeks and just be ready to go." "He won't have a lot of free time to get distracted too much,'' Broncos coach Vic Fangio said.

Denver tight end Noah Fant is dealing with foot and hip injuries sustained at Houston and missed Wednesday's practice. Others withheld were defensive end Adam Gotsis (knee), right tackle Ja'Wuan James (knee), defensive lineman Dre'Mont Jones (ankle) and right guard Ron Leary (concussion). For the Chiefs, defensive end Frank Clark was sent to a specialist to examine stomach issues and missed practice Wednesday. Running back Damien Williams (rib) returned to practice after missing Sunday.

--Field Level Media

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)