Brady Praises Mahomes’ Leadership After Chiefs’ Season-Opening Win
Brady Praises Mahomes' Leadership After Chiefs' Season-Opening Win
Tom Brady ranked the Kansas City Chiefs No. 7 in his latest NFL power rankings and said quarterback Patrick Mahomes is showing signs of returning to his usual form after tearing his ACL last December. “I think, in a lot of ways, he’s back to being Patrick Mahomes,” Brady said, pointing to Mahomes’ “leadership, discipline, tenacity” during the Chiefs’ 31-10 win over the Denver Broncos on Monday night.
Mahomes completed 15 of 27 passes for 184 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, and added a 15-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter. Brady acknowledged Mahomes did not put up his strongest statistical performance but praised the mobility he showed after missing extended time recovering from the injury and much of the offseason.
The game’s offensive standout was newcomer Kenneth Walker III, who rushed for a career-high 173 yards on 7.5 yards per carry, including a 60-yard touchdown that put the game out of reach in the second half. Brady credited Walker’s performance but devoted most of his commentary to Mahomes, drawing on his own experience returning from an ACL injury earlier in his career. Brady, a three-time Super Bowl winner, said he does not consider the Chiefs out of contention. “Why are we counting them out? Never count them out,” he said, adding that a strong coach-quarterback pairing within a championship-caliber organization tends to produce results.