NFL power rankings: 49ers stay even, Patriots fall entering Week 3

29 of 33

PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 16: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs drops back to pass in the first half during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on September 16, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

team. 124. . W, 42-37 @ Steelers. Previous: . Kansas City Chiefs. 5

If Ryan Fitzpatrick is red hot to start 2018, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is as hot as the sun right now.

After all, Mahomes has merely thrown for 10 touchdowns over the first two games of the season. At this rate, he’ll have 80 by the end of the year and will probably wind up with more than 1,200 for his career, more than doubling the NFL’s current leader, Peyton Manning, by nearly 700 scores.

OK, Mahomes will slow down at some point. Key words being “some point.” For now, he’s heading easily the most prolific offense in the league right now — a unit that easily pushed over the Chargers on the road in Week 1 and quickly got off to a big lead in Pittsburgh in Week 2.

What happens when the Chiefs host the questionable 49ers defense at home in Week 3? Mahomes could seriously eclipse his six-touchdown performance from Sunday.

Eye-popping performances aside, Kansas City still looks beatable on defense — an issue it will likely have for most of the season.

But as long as Mahomes and Co. are lighting up scoreboards across the NFL, it won’t matter much until the playoffs arrive.