FLOWERY BRANCH — At the current pace, Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes is going to rewrite all of the NFL’s passing records.
In his first 98 career starts, Mahomes has totaled 76 wins, 28,866 passing yards, 2,424 completions and 222 touchdown passes. His passing yards and completions totals already are the most by a player in his first 100 career starts, and he can tie or reset the all-time records in each of the other categories Sunday night against the Falcons.
Tom Brady and Roger Staubach had 76 wins in their first 100 games.
Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce power the Chiefs’ passing attack.
“Don’t try to beat them at their game,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said. “You got to beat them with getting in (their) pads and making them uncomfortable. You got to beat them with doing something that’s going to be able to frustrate them in a different way that they haven’t seen.”
Morris compared stopping Mahomes with trying to stop NBA great Michael Jordan.
“He was going to get 30,” Morris said. “How many did (John) Paxson have? How many did (Scottie) Pippen have? You got to be able to limit those (other) guys in different ways. These two are no different. A lot of times, they’re going to go get theirs. It’s about stopping some of the other people and limiting the things that they really feel comfortable doing that day.”
The Falcons know they are in for a big challenge.
“You’re talking about one of the best coaches of all time (Andy Reid of the Chiefs),” Morris said. “You’re talking about one of the best quarterbacks of all time and one of the best tight ends of all time.”