Patrick Mahomes already has managed to do for the Chiefs what many did not think was possible in 2019: raise his game from the level he showed in his exceptional MVP season last year.
The quarterback has Kansas City off to another 3-0 start after Sunday's 33-28 win over Baltimore. With three more touchdown passes, Mahomes has now thrown for multiple scores in 14 consecutive games, one short of matching his jersey number and tying Peyton Manning's record streak.
Speaking of Manning and records, the future Hall of Famer can expect that mark — and his 5,477 passing yards and 55 passing TDs from 2013 — to be broken by Mahomes. The player who passed for 5,097 yards and 50 TDs in his 2018 breakout is positioned to have by far the best passing season in the 100-year history of the NFL.
WATCH: Mahomes' best throws vs. Ravens
Over three games, Mahomes has 1,195 passing yards and 10 passing TDs. Averaging just short of 400 yards passing per game, he is on pace for 6,373 yards and 53 TDs.
With zero interceptions, Mahomes also is rating 134.9 in passing efficiency and averaging 10.5 yards per attempt. The single-season records in the those respective categories are held by Aaron Rodgers (122.5 passer rating in 2011) and Sid Luckman (10.9 yards per attempt in 1943).
As valuable as Mahomes was for the Chiefs last season, they are somehow more dependent on him now. That part of the reason why he is set up to maintain his latest riduclous pace and possibly create a new standard for the four most definitive passing stats.
WATCH: Full Chiefs vs. Ravens highlights
The Chiefs' new 4-3 defense has plenty of holes. Their running game did produce 140 yards on the ground against the Ravens, but there are some concerns about the consistency of the rushing attack, especially with Damien Williams (knee) hurting and LeSean McCoy aging and also banged up (ankle).
At the same time, even with go-to wide receiver Tyreek Hill injured, Mahomes is loaded with dangerous receivers. Rookie Mecole Hardman did his best Hill impression against the Ravens, and both Sammy Watkins and DeMarcus Robinson have taken turns exploding in the offense. Tight end Travis Kelce is the steady, intermediate presence with his usual flashes of spectacular.
If Mahomes was getting his feet wet as a starter in Andy Reid's offense last season, one should now consider him now fully immersed. The 2019 season so far has been short on magic acts such as the no-look passes; it has been higher, however, on precision and execution. The jaw-dropping plays have become routine.
MORE: Week 3 NFL scores, stats, highlights
The Chiefs need to jump out to big leads to ease the burden on their defense and open things up for their running game. Reid has full confidence in Mahomes to go after big plays when available on almost every play.
Mahomes has made the quick transition from youthful sensation to trusted veteran. Kansas City knows its best chance to win games is putting no limits on him.
The Chiefs need to score a lot of points this season, and they will be relentless with Mahomes putting up numbers even bigger than those he posted last season.
