Q: Why do you think the offense is hitting their stride right now?
MAHOMES: “I think first off, it starts up front. I think our offensive line is doing a great job protecting and giving me time to evaluate stuff down the field. I think (General Manager Brett) Veach and (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid have brought in a lot of receivers (and) a lot of weapons – Tight ends (and) running backs that can make plays happen down the field and so when the offensive line blocks like that, I’ve always said it makes my job a lot easier and we’ve been able to distribute the ball and Coach Reid and (Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy) Coach Nags are calling great plays at the right time.”
Q: On Hollywood Brown’s second touchdown.
MAHOMES: “We had called a play where we actually thought they had one of their defensive ends drop and we thought he was going to drop from the boundary and we thought we were going to get (Isiah Pacheco) Pop open but for him dropping underneath Pop, Hollywood (Brown) was able to get across the field and I was able to throw him (Hollywood Brown) the ball and he won with speed but that’s part of the progression you have to be able to recognize the coverages that they’re in and Hollywood did a great job getting open.”
Q: How much do you feel Hollywood Brown is hitting his stride?
MAHOMES: “I think with Hollywood (Brown), he’s always had the talent, he’s dealt with a lot of injuries and when he’s there, he plays hard. He understands the game and he does a great job and the great thing about this offense is it can come from everywhere. Obviously, Hollywood, Tyquan (Thornton) has had big games, Xavier (Worthy) has had big games, Travis (Kelce) obviously, other guys and then now we’re getting Rashee (Rice) back and so, it’s all about building depth and I think (General Manager Brett) Veach has done a great job with that and those guys love each other. That receiving room, they love each other and they want each other to do good and so when you have that mindset that as a whole room, you can have a lot of success.”
Q: On going for it on fourth down in the first quarter.
MAHOMES: “We knew we had to have an aggressive mindset. They (Detroit Lions) have an aggressive mindset as a team. (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid came in with the right mindset (and) we had talked about different plays we liked. Other than one fourth down I think we did a great job of executing at the right time. When Coach believes in us, he gives us more of a belief in ourselves and guys made it happen, and we were able to get two or three of those fourth downs.”
Q: How did that fourth down conversion come about?
MAHOMES: “We knew what coverages we could expect in that type of situation and Xavier (Worthy) did a great job of winning one-on-one and there were more options on the play but whenever your first option is Xavier and he wins immediately and gets a touchdown – that’s the type of guy he (Xavier Worthy) is. If he’s in man coverage he can win and get that open. It went from being a tightly contested throw to me just lobbing it out there and letting him get in the end zone.”
Q: Did that touchdown play come together during the week?
MAHOMES: “Yeah, we talked through fourth down situations in certain parts of the field and so (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid (and I) had talked through certain situations like that and we knew a couple plays that we liked and then you let Coach Reid and (Offensive Coordinator Matt) Nagy call the plays at the right time and they expected man and called a play that had a good man-beater on there – Xavier (Worthy) and you let a guy go out there and win and we won.”
Q: When did you know Josh Simmons wasn’t going to be here and Jaylon Moore would be filling in?
MAHOMES: “I didn’t fully know, obviously we had walk-through around noon or one and he wasn’t there, so I knew something was up and then talking with the coaches after – obviously a personal matter but I have all the faith in the world in Jaylon (Moore). He came here to do what he did today. Go out and be up against one of the premier pass rushers in the league and handle his own. That speaks to his (Jaylon Moore) professionalism. Getting better and better through work throughout the week and being prepared to play at any moment and he went out there and showcased the type of player that he is.”
Q: On being patient with all of the new offensive pieces.
MAHOMES: “You can see it. You see sparks here and there throughout the beginning of the season of guys exceling and obviously you don’t want injuries, but it threw Hollywood (Brown) and Tyquan (Thornton) in big moments where they had to really progress even faster than we could expect, kind of like with Xavier (Worthy) the year before and Rashee (Rice) the year before that. Now that we’re adding those guys back, they all have the confidence that they can win their matchups and know how to work within the offense and so it makes my job a lot easier when those guys up front are blocking like that, I have weapons everywhere that I can throw the football.”
Q: On scoring at the end of the first half and beginning of the second half.
MAHOMES: “It was huge. I think we learned from last week. Last week we got the ball out of half, and we went three-and-out quickly and it gave momentum back to the Jaguars so we were really emphasizing in the locker room we need to go out there and score and put the momentum back in our favor and we were able to do that. We got backed up and we didn’t get going the way we wanted to, but it was important to get that lead back and get the momentum – get (GEHA Field at) Arrowhead (Stadium) especially, get the crowd going because it makes it difficult for that offense – any other offense to get out there and do work.”
Q: What do you think about what unfolded after the game?
MAHOMES: “At this point it kind of is what it is. You just gotta move on. We won the football game (and) I thought we did a great job and played well but now we’re onto the Raiders.”
Q: On if Aidan Hutchinson’s hit was part of what built up after the game.
MAHOMES: “You’re playing football (and) you’re being chippy. That’s a physical football team and they have a mentality that they come in to play with and we’re going to match that mentality. We’re not afraid to go up against anybody. That’s the mentality (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid brings in every single day and we’re going to match the intensity of whoever steps on that football field.”
Q: What can this offense do with Rashee Rice?
MAHOMES: “I’m very excited. I’ll just leave it there.”
Q: On Brashard Smith’s development.
MAHOMES: “He’s (Brashard Smith) done a great job (of) being a weapon for us. He can run the ball from the backfield but just getting the football in his hands (and) letting him make plays happen. I think him having the receiving and the running back background, you can use him in so many different ways. Just like any rookie in this offense, it takes time for them to learn everything. The little things that happen – the little details. We’ll keep giving him more and more chances to go out there and succeed but he’s definitely a playmaker that I think will get better and better as the season goes on.”
Q: On being the fastest player to 300 career passing touchdowns.
MAHOMES: “It’s extremely cool. I’ve been blessed. I always say it and I mean it, ‘I’ve been blessed.’ I got drafted here in Kansas City, a great community, a great ownership and then getting one of the best football coaches of all-time and some of the greatest players of all-time around me. It makes my job a lot easier when I’m able to throw to some great ones and let’s continue it, let’s have some fun and we’ve got a long career ahead and let’s see how many we can get to.”