Sonstiges » Patrick Mahomes awoke early on Tuesday to open presents

KANSAS CITY http://www.bearscheapstores.com/riley-ridley-jersey-cheap , Mo. (AP) — with his little sister and the rest of his family, then the Chiefs quarterback hopped in his car for a quick trip to Arrowhead Stadium.Where he watched film. On Christmas.He got in his usual couple of hours of game-week prep on what is typically a day off for NFL teams, then hopped back in his car and headed home for the family feast.Then he watched more film. Still on Christmas.It’s that dedication to Mahomes’ craft that has helped the second-year pro become an MVP candidate as a first-time starter. He already has shattered numerous franchise records, including yards passing and TD passes in a single season, and Mahomes has positioned Kansas City for a third straight AFC West title and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs with a victory Sunday over Oakland.The biggest wild card for the Chiefs entering the season has become their one constant.“It’s the process. You set up the schedule for a reason,” Mahomes said Wednesday, when the rest of the Chiefs returned to practice.“You follow the same schedule — game plan, watch film, practice — and you do the same things you’ve been doing to have success.”At this point, why would Mahomes deviate from his routine?He’s thrown 48 touchdown passes to lead the NFL by a dozen, and his 4,816 yards passing trail only Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He leads the league in yards per attempt among QBs that have started all season, and only the Saints’ Drew Brees has a better quarterback rating.Speaking of ratings, Mahomes only has had three games in which his rating has failed to reach 100, and the Chiefs still won all of those games. He’s thrown a TD pass in every game except one http://www.cowboyscheapauthenticstore.com/trysten-hill-jersey-cheap , and that was a 30-14 rout of Jacksonville.And he’s thrown at least three touchdown passes in 10 games, with a pair of six-touchdown efforts in shootouts against the Patriots and Rams.“You just trust the process,” Mahomes said in explaining his unflappable nature. “Trust that your teammates are going to make the big plays they’ve made all year, and trust in my ability not to do too much. You just play the same game you’ve played all year.”Or the same game he’s played his whole life.Few were convinced that Mahomes would seamlessly transition from the Air Raid system of Texas Tech to the versatile, complex West Coast offense of Andy Reid. But the Chiefs coach saw enough of him last season in practice that Reid was willing to trade away Alex Smith and give him a shot.Now, the Chiefs are promoting Mahomes in MVP hype videos as they barrel toward the playoffs.“I am happy for all these guys, whatever accolades they get,” Reid said. “Patrick has worked hard for all of that stuff. There are a lot of great players in this league, so all the sudden you get pointed out as doing that, it’s important. Then it’s important to get back to what is real and that’s the game. But I am happy for him. A lot of work went into that for him.”Right, the game. The one that Mahomes was in the film room prepping for on Christmas, while the rest of his family was relaxing at home. The Chiefs have already squandered two chances to lock up the division title, and they could fall all the way to the No. 5 seed with a loss Sunday.So it makes sense that Mahomes was cramming for the Raiders on Tuesday.Even if it didn’t mean straying from the norm.“Everybody is excited for the opportunity,” Mahomes said, “getting to play a division opponent Connor McGovern Jersey , a rival in our division, then get to play at Arrowhead Stadium. We want to stay here from here on out. If we come out and play like we know we can, we can make a run at this thing.”Notes: RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif returned to practice for the first time since breaking his fibula and tearing ligaments in Week 5 against Jacksonville. It begins a three-week window in which Duvernay-Tardif can get up to speed. “We’ll just bring him back gradually,” Reid said. “It’s just a matter of getting caught up with the speed of the game.” … Reid said WR Sammy Watkins was out of a walking boot and “moving around,” though his return remains uncertain. He hasn’t played a full game since early November. ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP)Matthew Stafford zipped a quick pass out to the right, his timing and accuracy seemingly unaffected by windy, rainy practice conditions. Detroit’s passing game looks poised to take off during the second half of this season, but there are some factors beyond the Lions’ control. Such as the elements. The forecast calls for clear conditions Sunday when Detroit plays at Chicago, but Stafford can never be too sure about that when on the road against the Bears. So it made some sense that the Lions were practicing outside in the rain Wednesday. Although their home games are indoors, they have four road trips still to come in the regular season, starting this weekend. ”I played in a bunch of games there. I played early in the season, played late in the season,” Stafford said. ”You never know what you’re going to get. That’s how we’ll prepare. You got to go out there and see the way the game’s unfolding, see the way the weather is either affecting the game or not affecting the game.” The Lions lost 17-14 at Chicago early last season and were held without an offensive touchdown. Detroit is 3-5 there during Stafford’s career Khari Willis Jersey , and he’s thrown for over 300 yards only once at Chicago, in a 37-13 loss in 2011. Stafford attempted 63 passes and was intercepted four times in that game. The Lions probably won’t throw that many times this weekend, but make no mistake, they’re still heavily reliant on Stafford, his receivers, and the offensive line’s ability to protect the quarterback. Detroit is 29th in the league in rushing, and although the Lions averaged 5.5 yards per run in a win over Cleveland last weekend, they leaned on Stafford with the game on the line. After falling behind 24-17 late in the third quarter, Detroit ran the ball twice in its next 13 offensive plays, scoring two touchdowns to go back ahead. Rookie Kenny Golladay had back-to-back catches of 14 and 50 yards in his first game back from a hamstring injury. ”The thing about this league is you have to, when you get one-on-one opportunities, you got to be able to win some,” coach Jim Caldwell said. ”I think our guys on the outside, not just Kenny, but I think Marvin (Jones Jr.) is the same way. They’ll force you to get in situations where there’s 50-50 balls Josh Allen Jersey , and if we win our share, obviously you may have to do a couple things a little differently in order to handle them.” Tight end Eric Ebron had a crucial touchdown catch Sunday, joining Golladay and Jones to provide good secondary receiving options for Stafford. Golden Tate remains Detroit’s top receiver with 56 catches for 659 yards on the season, and it now looks like he’ll have plenty of help down the stretch. ”We’ve got plays that can help everybody get the ball in their hands, and I just don’t see how you’re going to guard all of us effectively,” Tate said. ”I think whenever I’m getting doubled, someone else is going to be wide open, and so on. We’re excited. I think this time of the season is when we usually start to peak, and that’s what I’m expecting this year. It’s getting later in the season. We’re in the third quarter of the season. It’s time for us to string a few games together.” NOTES: OL T.J. Lang participated fully in practice after missing last weekend’s game because of a concussion. … DE Ezekiel Ansah (back) and RB Dwayne Washington (hip) missed practice. … The Lions acquired LB Kasim Edebali via waivers from Denver. Detroit waived DE George Johnson, who had just been signed the previous day. —