Jason McCourty reverses Chiefs opinion
Former NFL defensive back and Super Bowl LIII champion Jason McCourty said he felt like an idiot for doubting Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City after watching the Chiefs open the 2026 season with 3 victories.
McCourty made the admission during an ESPN discussion before Kansas City’s Week 4 game against Las Vegas. He praised Mahomes’ return from injury and the different ways the Chiefs could attack opposing defenses.
Jason McCourty praises Mahomes’ return
McCourty said Mahomes had not returned to the statistical level of his 2018 MVP season, when the quarterback threw 50 touchdown passes. He emphasized that Mahomes was still early in his return during September.
McCourty focused on how comfortable Mahomes looked moving outside the pocket. He highlighted Kansas City’s use of designed movement and Mahomes’ ability to scramble and throw on the move following his recovery from knee surgery.
Patrick Mahomes returns from ACL injury
Mahomes entered 2026 after recovering from the torn ACL that ended his 2025 season. He returned to regular-season action when Kansas City opened its 2026 schedule against Denver on September 14.
Kansas City defeated Denver 31 to 10 at Arrowhead Stadium. Mahomes completed 15 of 27 passes for 184 yards and 2 touchdowns while also scoring 1 rushing touchdown in his regular-season return.
Chiefs start season with 4 wins
Kansas City improved to 4-0 after defeating Las Vegas 30-27 on October 4. The Chiefs previously beat Denver 31-10, Indianapolis 33-30 in overtime, and Miami 24-10.
The undefeated Chiefs entered their Week 5 bye after four consecutive victories. Kansas City returns to action on October 18 against the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium.
Patrick Mahomes tops 1,000 yards
Mahomes has thrown for 1,037 yards through Kansas City’s first 4 games of 2026. The Chiefs quarterback has recorded 9 passing touchdowns and 2 interceptions while producing a 106.2 passer rating.
His highest passing total came against Indianapolis on September 20. Mahomes completed 32 of 47 attempts for 382 yards and 3 touchdowns without an interception as Kansas City won 33- 30 in overtime.
Patrick Mahomes limits interceptions
Mahomes has thrown 2 interceptions across 128 passing attempts through Week 4. He went without an interception against Indianapolis and Las Vegas while Kansas City won both games by exactly 3 points.
Mahomes’ 2 interceptions came against Denver and Miami. He also threw 2 touchdown passes in each of those games as Kansas City scored 31 points against Denver and 24 against Miami.
Patrick Mahomes protects the football
Mahomes has thrown all 9 of his 2026 touchdown passes inside the opponent’s 19-yard line without an interception from that field position. He has completed 19 of 25 passes there.
Across all field positions, Mahomes has thrown 2 interceptions on 128 attempts, producing a 1.6% interception rate through Week 4 as Kansas City has opened the season 4-0.
Patrick Mahomes delivers against Raiders
Mahomes completed 15 of 30 passes for 225 yards and 2 touchdowns against Las Vegas on October 4. He threw no interceptions as Kansas City defeated the Raiders 30-27 at Allegiant Stadium.
Both of Mahomes’ touchdown passes went to Tyquan Thornton, covering 2 yards and 8 yards. The second touchdown came with 14:54 remaining, and the extra point gave Kansas City a 17-13 lead at 14:50.
Fun fact: Patrick Mahomes was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 37th round of the 2014 MLB Draft.
Kenneth Walker gives Chiefs balance
McCourty identified Kenneth Walker III as another reason Kansas City’s offense impressed him. He described the combination of Mahomes and Walker as a major challenge because Kansas City could attack defenses in different ways.
Walker reinforced that point against Las Vegas by rushing 22 times for 177 yards and 2 touchdowns. His 2 fourth-quarter scores helped Kansas City turn a 19-17 deficit into a 30-27 victory.
Chiefs offense creates multiple options
McCourty said Kansas City could use heavier formations to run the football before turning to play action for deeper throws. He also highlighted formations that spread defenses and allowed Mahomes to release passes quickly.
McCourty also highlighted Mahomes’ ability to create outside the pocket, while Walker provided Kansas City with a productive rushing option. He said that combination made the offense especially impressive during its unbeaten September start.
Patrick Mahomes produces strong Sundays
Mahomes produced strong passing numbers across Kansas City’s first 3 Sunday games of 2026. He completed 67 of 101 attempts for 853 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 1 interception in those victories.
Those performances produced a 111.5 passer rating through October 4. Mahomes averaged about 8.4 yards per attempt across Kansas City’s Sunday victories over Indianapolis, Miami, and Las Vegas during that span.
Chiefs overcome possession gap
Kansas City possessed the ball for 24 minutes and 18 seconds against Las Vegas, compared with 35 minutes and 42 seconds for the Raiders. The Chiefs generated 399 total yards during the victory.
Las Vegas finished with 437 total yards but committed 2 turnovers, while Kansas City committed none. The Chiefs averaged 6.9 yards per play compared with 5.6 for the Raiders during the divisional game.
Chiefs score 20 in final quarter
Kansas City entered the 4th quarter trailing Las Vegas 13-10 before scoring 20 points. Kenneth Walker III’s touchdown runs from 2 and 22 yards helped the Chiefs build a 30-19 lead.
Las Vegas answered with a touchdown and a successful 2-point conversion before Kansas City’s defense closed the game. Xavier Nwankpa intercepted Kirk Cousins with 10 seconds remaining to preserve the 30-27 victory.
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Jason McCourty’s doubts fade quickly
McCourty’s comments came when Kansas City was 3- 0, before the Chiefs added their 4th victory against Las Vegas. His assessment focused on Mahomes’ movement, Walker’s rushing ability, and Kansas City’s offensive flexibility.
Kansas City has since improved to 4- 0 for the 2026 season. The Chiefs enter their Week 5 bye unbeaten before hosting the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium on October 18.
Mahomes offered a candid assessment after Kansas City secured the victory over Miami. Patrick Mahomes gets brutally honest after Chiefs beat Dolphins reveals what the quarterback had to say following the win.
Do you think Jason McCourty was right to change his mind about Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs? Share your take in the comments and tell us what has impressed you most.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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