Patrick Mahomes has been left out of the Pro Bowl for the very first time as starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs – but fans aren’t surprised by his omission.
Despite going 15-1 this season as he hunts down an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl, Mahomes has failed to make it onto the AFC roster for the first time since becoming Kansas City’s starter back in 2018.
Instead, Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow have been named as the AFC quarterbacks for the annual NFL event, which pits the best players from each conference against one another in a showcase game.
Yet while he remains the biggest name in the league, and still stands a strong chance of pulling off the ‘three-peat’, Mahomes’ numbers have dipped so far in 2024.
The 29-year-old is on course to finish with the lowest passing yards of his career as Chiefs starter with 3,928, while also throwing his lowest amount of touchdowns with 26.
As a result, the majority of fans are in agreement with his Pro Bowl snub, especially given Jackson, Allen and Burrow – the three leading MVP candidates in many people’s eyes – have been in such good form this season.
‘Hard to make a case for Mahomes against the 3 that made it based on this seasons stats, aside from wins,’ one wrote on X.
Another posted: ‘mahomes should not have been so that’s good’.
A Chiefs fan even admitted: ‘I love our QB1 but the others voted in are having Pro Bowl years… it’s valid!’
‘Nobody here can successfully convince me why he should’ve made it over the three who did make it,’ argued a fourth.
While one simply asked: ‘Why would Mahomes make it to the pro bowl?’
Despite enduring a below-par season by his usual standards, Mahomes has only thrown 11 interceptions so far in 2024, which is his lowest total since 2020. He also posted the highest completion percentage of his career with 67.5.
However, Burrow currently leads the league in passing yards with 4,641 while throwing just eight interceptions – which Jackson (4) and Allen (6) have even fewer of.
Burrow (69.8) and Jackson (67.9) also have better completion percentages than Mahomes, while they also lead the league for touchdown passes. The Cincinnati man has racked up 42 so far, with his Baltimore counterpart just three behind on 39.
As a result, the two aforementioned quarterbacks and Bills superstar Allen – along with Philadelphia Eagles running back sensation Saquon Barkley – are the frontrunners for this year’s MVP prize.
Mahomes wasn’t among five Chiefs players chosen for this year’s Pro Bowl. Teammate and close friend Travis Kelce has made it for the 10th time.
Washington’s Jayden Daniels is just the fourth rookie quarterback since 1970 selected to the initial Pro Bowl roster. Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse are the other rookies among 24 players chosen for the first time.
Detroit’s Jared Goff is the NFC’s starting quarterback and Minnesota´s Sam Darnold also made the team.
