Despite leading the Kansas City Chiefs to an NFL-best 15-1 record this season, former Texas Tech football star Patrick Mahomes II has been left off of the AFC Pro Bowl roster for the first time in his seven years as a starting QB in the NFL, at least, as it stands now.
Thursday, the NFL released its Pro Bowl rosters and Mahomes did not make the initial cut. Instead, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, Joe Burrow of the Cincinnatti Bengals, and Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens are the three QBs selected to represent the AFC in the Pro Bowl.
Though the Chiefs are the top seed in the AFC playoffs and have clinched home-field advantage for as long as their playoff run lasts, it isn't a shock that Mahomes was not voted to the Pro Bowl. That's because this season has not been a standout statistical one for the Red Raider legend.
Through 16 games, Mahomes has thrown for 3,928 yards. If he doesn't play this weekend against the Denver Broncos, as many expect given that the Chiefs have already secured the top seed in the playoffs, then it will be the first time in the last seven seasons that Mahomes has thrown for fewer than 4,000 yards.
What's more, his 26 touchdowns this season would be the fewest he's had in a season in which he's been a starting QB in the NFL. However, that doesn't mean that Mahomes has played poorly.
Rather, he's had to work with a mediocre group of receivers this year with no Chief nearing the 1,000-yard mark in receiving yards through 16 games. What's more, the Chiefs' running game has been ineffective at times this year given injuries at the running back position. In fact, the team's leading rusher, Kareem Hunt, has only 728 rushing yards on the season.
In other words, the talent around Mahomes hasn't been as strong this year as it has been in past seasons. Still, he's been one of the best QBs in the game.
Mahomes has more passing yards thus far than Allen and only two fewer touchdown passes. However, Allen is the frontrunner to win the NFL MVP award for some reason.
One has to wonder if Mahomes is being impacted by a case of Kansas City Cheifs fatigue from people around the NFL. After leading that franchise to the last two Super Bowl Championships and putting it in position to potentially capture an unprecedented third in a row, many around the sport have grown tired of celebrating Mahomes' and Kansas City's greatness.
Of course, Mahomes would rather have another Super Bowl title to celebrate this year instead of a Pro Bowl nod. What's more, if the Chiefs don't make it to the Super Bowl this season but Buffalo or Baltimore does, then either Allen or Jackson will not participate in the Pro Bowl meaning Mahomes could be named a replacement.
That would keep Mahomes' Pro Bowl streak in tact. But, of course, the streak that matters most to the game's top player is the Super Bowl streak. Therefore, Mahomes likely isn't losing sleep over not being named to the Pro Bowl.