Patrick Mahomes: Comparing KC Chiefs quarterback to Peyton Manning for first 31 games

How does KC Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes compare to Peyton Manning in their first 31 games?

In the 2017 NFL Draft, the KC Chiefs traded up to take Patrick Mahomes at number ten overall. It is fair to say, on a very limited, but mind-boggling sample size, that was a great success.

As a rookie, Mahomes had the benefit of a season of understudy work under Alex Smith. Mahomes wasn’t thrown into the fire to succeed or fail right off the bat.

Of course, Mahomes has a unique set of skills, but he got the chance to watch and absorb the things Smith did that made him a very successful quarterback in his own right. Smith didn’t turn the ball over, managed the offense when it needed it, and knew the offense inside and out.

Mahomes certainly could have learned those things on his own over time, but getting to see Smith’s successes had to have helped his growth and development.

Patrick Mahomes vs. Peyton Manning through 31 games

Peyton Manning did not have the opportunity to learn by watching a veteran quarterback. He took over a terrible team that finished 3-13 the previous year. Mahomes, after his first season of watching and learning, took over a unit that went 10-6 the past year and earned a playoff spot.

Still, it is interesting to see how Mahomes stacks up to Manning, arguably the best quarterback in NFL history, over the first 31 games of their careers.

Mahomes’ first 31 games include a week 17 mop-up start in 2017, all 16 games in 2018, and 14 starts in 2019 (he missed two games due to an injury).

Manning started all 16 games both of his first two seasons, so the last start in 1999 is thrown out.

Here are some comparative numbers for Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning

• Attempts – Mahomes – 1,099, Manning – 1,079
• Completions – Mahomes – 724, Manning – 639
• Completion Percentage – Mahomes – 65.9, Manning – 59.2
• Passing Yards – Mahomes – 9,412, Manning – 7,711
• Passing Touchdowns – Mahomes – 76, Manning – 52
• Interceptions – Mahomes – 18, Manning 43
• Wins – Mahomes – 24, Manning – 16

Mahomes has better, more impressive numbers across the board. Of course, Mahomes played on a much better team his first full season as a starter than Manning did. The latter, in his second year, took a team with six wins in their previous two season and turned them into a 13-3 playoff team.

The game itself is a bit different than it was in Manning’s first two seasons, too. It wasn’t as pass-heavy. That has to be taken into consideration as well. Manning won his first AP MVP in 2003, year five for him. Mahomes won in 2018, his first year as a starter.

Manning won his one and only Super Bowl MVP in 2006, his eighth season in the league; Mahomes won his in 2019, his second season as a starter.

Another interesting stat is Manning had zero rushes for zero yards rushing in his first two seasons. Mahomes had 110 carries, 500 yards, and four touchdowns.

Patrick Mahomes is an extremely hot commodity right now, and there is no doubt. He is rightfully becoming the face of not only the Kansas City Chiefs but for the NFL as well. If he can maintain his level of play over a long period, maybe he can challenge Manning, but that is looking too far ahead. Let’s enjoy that he is a Chief.

Over the first 31 career games, Patrick Mahomes clearly has the edge over Peyton Manning but has a long way to go to match the Hall of Famer’s career numbers. He’s off to a great start!