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Is Patrick Mahomes the worst starting quarterback in the AFC West in 2018?

By Lyle Graversen

SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 25: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs passes against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on August 25, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 25: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs passes against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on August 25, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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FOXBORO, MA – OCTOBER 29: Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers looks on during the second half of the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA – OCTOBER 29: Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers looks on during the second half of the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Phillip Rivers – Los Angeles Chargers

If you want to talk about who the best quarterback in the AFC West is you have to start that conversation with Phillip Rivers. Look, I know he’s obnoxious. I know he’s melted down at Arrowhead on more than one occasion. I know he has about as much postseason success as the Chiefs. Still, if you put your biases aside and just look at the proven production, you have to admit that Rivers is still the best quarterback in the AFC West until some other young quarterback (hopefully Mahomes) takes the crown from him.

I can hear you through my keyboard already.

“I’d rather have Patrick Mahomes than Phillip Rivers any day!”

Well of course you would. You’re a Chiefs fan and Mahomes is just starting his NFL career and Rivers is at the end. That doesn’t change the fact that Mahomes has done NOTHING yet to justify ranking him ahead of a guy like Phillip Rivers. Over his past three seasons, Rivers has averaged:

  • 63.2% completions
  • 4,564 yards passing
  • 30 touchdowns

That’s his average for the past three seasons. Those are better numbers than Aaron Rodgers rookie season that we just discussed was a sensible ceiling for Mahomes expectations this season. Could Rivers fall off? Sure, he’s at that age where it could happen, but I think its fair to say that Rivers is a better quarterback TODAY than Patrick Mahomes if you can take your personal bias out of it.

So now let’s move on to our next quarterback.

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