Arrowheadlines: Patrick Mahomes wins AFC Offensive Player of the Week

Chiefs headlines for Thursday, October 2

Summarized by AI ⓘ

What is the story about?

The latest

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes earns his 11th AFC Player of the Week award | Chiefs Wire

The banner week for Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes continues as he earns another accolade following his Week 4 performance against the Baltimore Ravens. The two-time league MVP was awarded his 11th career Offensive Player of the Week award.

Mahomes completed 25 of 37 pass attempts (67.6 percent) for 270 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions and a 124.8 passer rating in Kansas City’s 37-20 victory

over Baltimore. It marked the only four passing touchdown performance in the NFL in Week 4 and the 18th of Mahomes’ career, the most-ever by a player in his first nine seasons.

The latest honor is now the most in Chiefs franchise history and ties Russell Wilson for the fourth-most Player of the Week awards among active quarterbacks, trailing only Aaron Rodgers (19), Josh Allen (16), and Lamar Jackson (13).

Chiefs’ outlook after 4 games: Breakout player, best development and updated odds | The Athletic

Are the Chiefs better or worse than expected through four games?

Worse, though things are trending upward.

Most disappointing is the 2-2 record, though K.C. has faced a difficult schedule. The Chiefs added to the degree of difficulty for this season by losing the opener to the Chargers — which puts their streak of nine consecutive AFC West titles at greater risk.

There’s also this: The Buffalo Bills are undefeated and have a light schedule ahead. They seem to be the overwhelming favorite to land the AFC’s 1 seed, which would make a K.C. playoff path more difficult.

Projections from The Athletic’s Austin Mock — comparing the preseason until now — illustrate the reality of the situation. The Chiefs aren’t as in as good of shape as they were to start the season, both through their own play and some forces outside their control.

Week 5 NFL QB Power Rankings: How far did Cowboys’ Dak Prescott leap after OT thriller? Jordan Love also rises | CBS Sports

2 – Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs QB
The Ravens’ declining defense was just what he needed to get going. Xavier Worthy’s‘s return also helped. Mahomes has remained his acrobatic self all year, but now he’s finally primed to settle into a big-play passing rhythm. (+7)

Grading Every 2025 NFL Draft 1st-Round Pick Through 4 Weeks | Bleacher Report

32. Kansas City Chiefs OT Josh Simmons: B

Bad, good, bad, good. It’s been a roller coaster so far for the Chiefs’ new left tackle, which isn’t surprising considering the competition. Despite some missteps, this looks like a real solid pick at the end of Round 1.

2025 NFL trade deadline: Biggest need for all 32 teams entering Week 5 | NFL.com

BIGGEST NEED: Defensive line

It’s been the Chris Jones and George Karlaftis show thus far in Kansas City, where no other lineman has more than six QB pressures in 2025. Adding someone who can push the pocket, whether on the inside or on the edge, would greatly benefit Steve Spagnuolo’s crew.

Chiefs could become offensive juggernaut once again with bold RB trade | Arrowhead Addict

Chiefs trading for Alvin Kamara would make a ton of sense

Some people might point out that Kamara is 30 years old and was taken in the same draft as current Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt. Why trade anything for a 30-year-old running back, those people might ask?

Well, because even though he’s 30 years old, Kamara doesn’t play like he is. He had 950 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns for a bad Saints team last year and tallied 543 receiving yards and two touchdowns through the air as well. He’s a multi-threat back and Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes would love having him in their offense.

At 0-4, the Saints aren’t going anywhere and, while they might not admit it, they’re in a rebuild. That means pretty much anyone on their roster should be up for grabs and that includes Kamara. The trade would give Kamara a chance to play for not just a winning team but a Super Bowl contender and it’d give the Chiefs a boost to their rushing attack.

Around the NFL

Three-time All-Pro Shaquille Leonard retiring with Colts | ESPN

Leonard will address Colts fans at halftime of Indianapolis game against the Las Vegas Raiders this Sunday and he will be the team’s anvil striker before kickoff.

“I’m excited he’s retiring a Colt,” coach Shane Steichen said Wednesday. “I mean he was the ultimate guy [at] taking the football away, punching that ball out. He played relentless. Just a ton of respect for him. Me and him still talk. He’ll text me every couple of weeks or every month and we text back and forth and he’s wishing us luck. So, just excited for him retiring a Colt and just a ton of respect for him as a player.”

Leonard, 30, played most of his six-season career with the Colts, who selected him in the second round of the 2018 draft out of South Carolina State. He was named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2018 when he led the NFL in tackles (163) and solo tackles (111) and was named first team All-Pro.

Niners say Purdy, Pearsall, Jennings all out against Rams | ESPN

On Wednesday, the Niners ruled out quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) and receivers Jauan Jennings (ribs, ankle), Ricky Pearsall (right knee) and Jordan Watkins (calf).

Those updates are in addition to a list of players already missing that includes tight end George Kittle (hamstring) and wideout Brandon Aiyuk (knee).

On Tuesday, Purdy offered some optimism that he might still be able to play despite the toe soreness that began plaguing him Sunday night after the Niners lost to the Jaguars. But he also cautioned that the short time from Sunday’s game to Thursday night would make it difficult.

“With a quick turnaround with a Thursday night game and everything, it’s just tougher,” Purdy said. “You don’t have as many days to get right and heal up and feel better.”

With Purdy out, Mac Jones is set to make his third start in the first five games. He led the Niners to wins in Weeks 2 and 3 against the Saints and Cardinals, respectively, but battled a sprained knee coming out of the Arizona win. Jones is back to full strength this week, not appearing on the injury report.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride

Chiefs Roster: Against the Ravens, the offensive line passes the test

Explosive plays

With Worthy back, the offensive line had opportunities to show off its athleticism in space.

On this end-around to Worthy, Kansas City sells a power run look. Mahomes pulls the ball at the last moment and hands it off, while Humphrey pins the defensive end inside to open the lane. Simmons releases smoothly into space, taking a smart angle to shield the safety just enough for Worthy to burst past him.

Blocking in space can be tricky for offensive linemen, but Simmons excels here. Even with minimal contact on the safety, he forces hesitation. This allows Worthy to fly past both defenders. But the most impressive block comes from Mike Caliendo, who shifts from a down block to seal off a defensive back who could have ended the play.

With every assignment executed cleanly, the Chiefs ripped off a big gain.