The Kansas City Chiefs entered Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts at 5-5, sitting third in the AFC West behind the Denver Broncos (9-2) and Los Angeles Chargers (7-4).
The Colts, meanwhile, were one of the AFC’s hottest teams at 8-2, led by quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Jonathan Taylor.
At halftime, Indianapolis held a 14-6 lead, capitalizing on Patrick Mahomes’ early interception, who finished the half with 14-of-21 passing for 117 yards and one interception.
However, the biggest headline came in the second quarter, when Mahomes reached 35,000 career passing yards, becoming the fastest player in NFL history to achieve the milestone.
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Since being drafted 10th overall in 2017, Mahomes has become the face of the league, now boasting more than 35,000 passing yards along with over 260 passing touchdowns across nine NFL seasons.
Over that span, he has earned two NFL MVPs, three Super Bowl MVPs, three Super Bowl titles, and six Bro Bowl selections.
In 2018, his first year as the Chiefs’ full-time starter, he became just the second player in league history to throw for more than 5,000 yards (5,097) and 50 touchdowns (50), alongside Colts legend Peyton Manning.
Sunday’s performance also moved Mahomes inside the top 35 all-time in career passing yards.
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Heading into Week 12, Mahomes ranked fifth in passing yards (2,625) and seventh in touchdowns (18), along with just six interceptions and the third-best QBR (72.7) this season.
He was previously listed as the odds-on favorite to win the MVP, but back-to-back losses to the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos have slowed momentum and quickly put the Chiefs’ season in jeopardy.
After Indianapolis, Kansas City will travel to Dallas for a primetime Thanksgiving game against the Cowboys on November 27.
The Chiefs then face the Texans at Arrowhead, host the Chargers, visit the Titans in Tennessee, return home against the Broncos, and finish the stretch on the road in Las Vegas.
With three of these being key divisional matchups, Kansas City will need Mahomes to keep producing at a high level to keep their playoff hopes alive.
