KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Patrick Mahomes era with the Chiefs couldn’t have started much better, with the 22-year-old wunderkind taking AFC Offensive Player of Week honors in just his second NFL start.
"It helped that a I had a lot of guys that played well for us on the offense," Mahomes said. "Tyreek (Hill) had a great game, the offensive line played really well. Everybody seemed to make plays. I'm glad I got the honor but it was kind of an offensive unit honor."
Mahomes led AFC quarterbacks with four touchdown passes and a gaudy 127.5 passer rating. He completed 15 of 27 throws for 256 yards, yielding an AFC-best 9.5 yards per attempt. He also added 21 yards rushing on five carries.
Head coach Andy Reid emphasized that Week 1 is simply a starting point, and it all about how Mahomes backs it up in the games ahead.
"He understands that, he's wired that way," Reid said. "It's a nice honor but you're only as good as that next game, so that's how that works."
It's the second-straight season a Chiefs quarterback won the AFC offensive player award in Week 1. Alex Smith won top honors last year for his performance in Kansas City's win over the New England Patriots.
The Chiefs offensive had more than one candidate for the weekly award. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill led the AFC with two touchdown catches in Week 1 and finished with a second-best 169 yards receiving.
Miami Dolphins receiver Jakeem Grant, a teammate of Mahomes at Texas Tech, captured the AFC special teams award for Week. Grant posted a 102-yard kickoff return in the Dolphins' 27-20 win over the Tennessee Titans. Hill also appeared a candidate for the special teams award thanks to his 91-yard punt return against the Chargers.
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt, whom the Chiefs face this week, won the AFC defensive award.
NFC weekly winners included Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Fitzparick, Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith and Los Angeles Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein.
