Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs return to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night for a crucial Week 14 matchup against the Houston Texans. The game comes on the heels of one of Mahomes’ strongest performances of the season, a four-touchdown, 261-yard outing that Kansas City hopes will spark a late-season surge.
As the Chiefs prepare for another must-win game, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is praising Mahomes’ growth and evolution as a quarterback — particularly his maturity in the pocket and improved decision-making.
Chiefs OC Matt Nagy Breaks Down Patrick Mahomes’ Growth in Pocket Presence and Decision-Making
Speaking with reporters Thursday, Nagy detailed the progress Mahomes has made this season in balancing aggressiveness with patience.
“We always talk about his feet,” Nagy said to reporters. “Mentally, this year we talked a little bit about more aggressiveness for all of us. So, I think he’s done a great job with that.”
According to Nagy, Mahomes’ next step has been learning to take what the defense gives him.
“The process of ‘okay, it’s not there, check it down.’ He had three of those last week. That’s growth,” Nagy explained. “Make it second-and-three instead of second-and-10. That’s growth.”
Mahomes has 22 touchdown passes this season and is on pace to become only the sixth player in NFL history to throw at least 25 touchdowns in eight straight seasons.
Nagy emphasized that Mahomes remains one of the most competitive players he has ever coached.
“He’s the most competitive human being I’ve been around,” Nagy said. “When you get in a game like last week, we get the touchdown at the end, and he was ready to roll and go down there and win the game. That’s just who he is.”
Nagy added that Mahomes’ leadership is one of the biggest reasons the Chiefs remain confident heading into Week 14.
“He’s a leader that is going to lead us, and that is one of his greatest strengths,” he said.
Texans Coach DeMeco Ryans Calls Mahomes ‘Houdini’Ahead of Week 14 Matchup
This will be the first meeting between the teams since Kansas City’s 23-14 win in the 2024 playoffs, as well as a 27-19 Chiefs win last December — the game in which Mahomes played through a sprained ankle.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans has not forgotten.
On Wednesday, he gave Mahomes a new nickname while previewing the matchup.
“Patrick is still Patrick,” Ryans said, via a post by the Houston Stressans on X. “Should call him ‘Houdini.’ He finds a way to make plays all over the field.”
Ryans pointed to Mahomes’ uncanny ability to escape pressure and his chemistry with tight end Travis Kelce during broken plays.
Mahomes enters Week 14 with 3,238 passing yards, 22 touchdown passes, and 348 rushing yards with four more scores. His mobility will be tested without multiple key offensive linemen, including Trey Smith and Josh Simmons, against a Texans pass rush led by Will Anderson Jr.
Mahomes said Wednesday that establishing the run will be essential.
“You’ve got to give the respect where it’s deserved,” Mahomes said. “Those guys have a great defensive line, so we’ll try to do the best we can getting the ball out of my hand.”
The Chiefs, currently fighting to stay alive in a crowded AFC playoff race, need a win to keep pace heading into the final stretch of the season.
Kickoff for Chiefs vs. Texans is Sunday at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
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