Patrick Mahomes was a strong MVP candidate through 13 weeks despite the Chiefs being 6-6
Mahomes was 3rd/33 in EPA per play up until that point with the highest usage rate in the league. The starting receivers were either suspended, injured or playing injured (not a single one had an above 50 ESPN receiver score). The lack of explosiveness in the run game wasn’t threatening defenses
Mahomes’ 8.8% scramble rate was the highest of his career. He was also pushing the ball down the field more because of Thornton’s big play ability. It was really impressive what he did in the offense!
The offense really broke down in the Texans and Chargers games against great defenses with multiple OL out. Without Mahomes, the Chiefs we’re starting some bad backup options but ranked 32nd/32 in EPA per play weeks 16-18
My guy … the Chiefs won 4 playoff games in 48 seasons before Mahomes became starter and then won 3 Super Bowls in his first 6 seasons with him the MVP in all 3
Successful plays (including dropbacks + designed runs) per offensive snap and Explosive plays (passes w/ 16+ yards gained, runs w/ 12+ yards gained) per offensive snap.
Kneels and spikes removed. Since 2013, min. 600 career pass attempts.
I've referenced this "Static Score" for offenses a handful of times on the coaches' show with Nate, so here's the full league ranking for last year. Lower number is subjectively better, per me.
Don't think this is perfect or by any means a tell-all story, but felt like it at least gets you into the ballpark of which offenses are following along with some of the modern efficiency-boosting trends that we've been talking about a lot the last few years.
(Static score = Average of team rankings in rate of plays in heavy personnel packages (2+ TE and or 2+ RBs), non-shotgun snap rate, dropback motion rate, and play-action rate.)