# Real Football: Is Patrick Mahomes BACK?!

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/go-long-podcast-1335022/real-football-is-patrick-mahomes-back
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/go-long-podcast-1335022/real-football-is-patrick-mahomes-back.md
Podcast: [Go Long Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/go-long-podcast-1335022)
Published: 2026-09-16T17:53:28+00:00
Episode link: https://www.golongtd.com/p/real-football-is-patrick-mahomes
Audio file: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/216005324/faf3358d74142222f2aaca661b912d73.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/go-long-podcast-1335022/episodes/real-football-is-patrick-mahomes-back
Duration seconds: 4950

## Resource

I believe it’s illegal in at least 27 states to publicly doubt Patrick Mahomes. He has earned that right. He was a central the-one-that-got-away figure in our first story ever at Go Long. There’s a strong case to make that Mahomes is the best quarterback ever this side of Tom Brady. The Kansas City Chiefs star has captivated us all with a magic to his game . Yet, last season, Mahomes posted career lows across the board and the Chiefs missed the playoffs. In my piece on C.J. Stroud and the gnarly Texans defense , sources detailed the team’s blueprint vs. Mahomes — one that Philadelphia used in the Super Bowl, one that bludgeoned the QB into submission. Houston made him look downright bad in 2025. Of course, the three-time champion and five-time Super Bowl participant is also coming off a torn ACL. This could dull mobility, too. Under the Monday Night Football glow, Mahomes started sluggish, ran for one touchdown and threw short for two more in a 31-10 win over Denver. What do we make of his performance? Where do Mahomes and the Chiefs go from here? This is our main topic on “Real Football” with co-host Jim Monos, our longtime NFL scout. Andy Reid and Brett Veach restructured this team in major ways in an attempt to create a new championship window. (Holy, Kenneth Walker Jr.) We get into plenty on the first episode of the regular season. * Everything Mahomes. (Also: I loved the QB’s trainer, Bobby Stroupe, sharing our story as motivation.) * Drake Maye’s scary debut. Aberration? Or cause for concern? * Juggernaut Chicago Bears offense. * Matt LaFleur’s Week 1 dud . * Baker Mayfield’s $55M/year contract. If Monos was the Buccaneers’ GM, what would he have done? * Why I still love the Ravens. New playcaller Declan Doyle, 30, supplied quite a first impression. * UPSET ALERT…

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