Oakland Raiders Rival: Patrick Mahomes

While the Oakland Raiders do not have to face 2018 NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes every week, they do face him twice. Mahomes is an incredible player. Fans looking for flaws or simple answers to defeat Mahomes need to stop looking. To be honest, Mahomes’ flaws would barely fit in a tweet, let alone an article.

Stats

“Incredible” probably does not do Mahomes justice. In his first year as a full-time starter, Mahomes threw for 5097 yards and 50 touchdowns. In addition, he led the league in both categories. Not only is Mahomes unmatched on the stat books, his play on the field appears elite. From monster throws to no-look passes across his body, no one features that ability.

Ascension and Hope

In the years Tom Brady reigned supreme, it remains rare to watch a different quarterback dominate the narrative like Patrick Mahomes does. Preventing Patrick Mahomes from laying waste to your team is easily avoidable: do not agree to have the Kansas City Chiefs on your schedule. As this is not exactly a doable and repeatable feat, we have to look for other possibilities.

Gameplan

The most feasible, on field option to stopping him is pressure. Mahomes is a young player but he does not have many flaws. His strongest attribute is his ability to make things happen after the drawn-up play has run its course. The Chiefs’ QB thrives on defenses trying to take away routes, instead of trying to get into the backfield. Pressing receivers or pressuring Mahomes will not be successful by themselves.

If receivers look blanketed, he can wait in the pocket against a minimal pass rush (especially in the 2018 Raiders’ situation). Or if the receivers are pressed, a quick pump fake can open space up top; If a receiver can get open space in the secondary, Mahomes can (and will) find them.

Attack

Mahomes and his receivers must feel pressure if the Raiders want to succeed, but with a maximum of 11 players allowed, it is incredibly difficult to do both.

Other teams have adopted a “Big 12” strategy against him, which essentially entails putting defense on the backburner and simply trying to outscore the Chiefs, which with or without Tyreek Hill, will prove unsuccessful.