In 2013, at the age of 37, Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning smashed Tom Brady's record for most touchdown passes in an NFL season. His 55 TD strikes eclipsed the Patriot's legend by five, and even in today's wide open National Football League, it's hard to imagine anyone breaking this historic mark. Until now.
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At the season's halfway point, Kansas City gunslinger Patrick Mahomes is having a year most QBs not named Brady, Brees, or Rodgers could only dream of, and there are five reasons the former Texas Tech standout could find himself in the record books at the end of December.
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5. Current Pace
Mahomes already has 26 touchdown tosses at the midway point of the season to put him on pace for 52. That would top Brady's mark of 50 set in 2007, but there's a reason I think he can reach 56 and leap over Manning.
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4. Remaining Schedule
The Chiefs final eight games feature some of the worst defenses in the league. Yes, Mahomes must face the Rams and Ravens, but both of those contests are at home.
Here's where #15 should feast: He faces the Browns 30th-ranked defense this week, the Cardinals 24th-ranked D in week 10, and gets the pleasure of meeting the Raiders twice. This is the same Oakland defense that surrendered 42 points to the 3-5 Colts last weekend.
One caveat: Will the Chiefs need to play Mahomes in the season finale against Oakland? If they're chasing home-field advantage, you bet.
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3. He's Done it Before
Mahomes has already thrown for four or more touchdowns on five occasions this year, including six in a 42-37 shootout over the Steelers.
2018 isn't the first time we've seen him go off as demonstrated by his 734-yard performance and five touchdowns against Baker Mayfield and Oklahoma in 2016.
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2. Chiefs' Porous Defense
Although Kansas City sits atop the AFC, the defense ranks no. 31 in the league in total yards allowed and are tied at no. 19 in points allowed.
That means you can expect to see Mahomes airing the ball out in the fourth quarter instead of milking the clock with the run game or resting on the bench because, well, he has to.
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1. Surrounded by Playmakers
Kareem Hunt is fourth in the NFL in rushing. Tyreek Hill is sixth in the NFL in receiving yards. Travis Kelce is only two receiving yards shy of leading all tight ends in receiving yards.
The offense is stacked, and Mahomes has every reason to believe his name will sit atop the record books at season's end.
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