Von Miller admits you can’t stop Patrick Mahomes from scoring

Von Miller was recently asked about how to stop Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and he responded with the only answer: You can’t.

In a recent interview with Washington Post reporter Kent Babb, Denver Broncos defensive end Von Miller was asked about how his defense can stop Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The All-Pro pass rusher had an easy answer.

"“Can’t. We’ve just got to score points,” Miller said. “If we’re able to get off the field — you can hold them to a third down here and there, but that’s on our offense. We’ve got to score on offense because you cannot — it’s not smart to go into the game and say we’re going to hold Patrick Mahomes to no points.”"

There are two ways to look at this. For starters, of course Miller is correct. After Mahomes’ record-setting 2018 season, many speculated that NFL coaches would be able to slow him down after having a year of film on the young quarterback. But in 2019 he was better, despite injuries, and won the Super Bowl. The Broncos are 0-5 against Mahomes in their attempts at thwarting him, so Miller speaks from experience.

Inversely, if you’re the Denver Broncos and general manager John Elway, how would such a declaration make you feel? The Broncos have paid Miller $100 million in his career and are still on the hook for another $47 million over the next two seasons. And, your star player, your defensive captain and team leader has… given up? Of course, some could argue the entire AFC West has given up, based on their draft classes.

As an organization, Elway cannot be happy about his star being so blunt about both what he cannot do to thwart the Chiefs’ juggernaut offense and also in his reasonably direct attack at his team’s offensive output. A leader should never defer blame for a team’s inability to win, yet Miller has done just that.

Some may argue that Miller is just speaking generally, arguing that the defense cannot stop Mahomes and company forever so the offense has to score more points. Maybe that’s true. But no matter how you look at it, Miller joins a long list of people who have simply determined that Patrick Mahomes is unstoppable. They’re right.