The Minnesota Lynx are headed back to the semifinals.

The No. 1 seed Lynx clawed their way back from a 17-point deficit to beat the Golden State Valkyries, 75-74, on Wednesday at the SAP Center in San Jose, California.

‘It was (a) tough game, closeout games are always so hard, especially in an environment like this,’ Lynx MVP candidate Napheesa Collier said postgame.

The Lynx will wait for their opponent. The Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday joined the Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever in forcing Game 3s by thoroughly dismantling the defending champion New York Liberty, 86-60, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

It was the Mercury’s first playoff win since the 2021 WNBA Finals. It was the largest loss by the Liberty at home in their playoff history and the Mercury’s largest road win when facing playoff elimination.

Game 3 will be Friday in Phoenix at the PHX Center (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2). The Liberty know they have to make changes if they want to advance to the semifinals and continue their title defense.

‘We can’t go out and play the same way we did and expect a different result,’ Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu said. ‘We have to go out and make the adjustments and play like our season is on the line, because it is.’

Winners

Phoenix Mercury’s Big 3

The Mercury didn’t panic after their disappointing Game 1 loss to the Liberty. Instead, Phoenix geared up for a battle in New York. ‘The mindset is … go to New York and get it,” Kahleah Copper said on Sunday. That’s exactly what the Mercury did. Phoenix not only staved off elimination, it dominated the defending champs.

The Mercury’s Big 3 of Alyssa Thomas (15 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds), Satou Sabally (15 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals) and Copper (14 points, 2 rebounds) took charge. The trio of stars set the tone early and got all their teammates involved. The Mercury are 14-0 this season when their Big 3 scores 10 or more points each. There may have been questions about Phoenix’s future after the end of the Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner era, but the new lineup has the Mercury one win away from their first semifinal appearance since 2021.

Phoenix Mercury unicorn Satou Sabally

Mercury forward Satou Sabally turned in her worst shooting performance of the season in a Game 1 loss to the Liberty on Sunday, going 2-of-17 from the field and 1-of-10 from 3 at home. Sabally said she watched the film and took good shot attempts, despite the end result. “I’m a great player and I know that. That game was not who I am,” she said. Sabally came out aggressive and shot 5-for-11 and 2-for-4 from 3 on Wednesday, finishing with 15 points in the win. ‘We’re not done yet,” Sabally declared after the victory.

Resilient Minnesota Lynx

The Lynx are the first and only team to advance to the semifinals in two games after every other first-round playoff series went to Game 3. It wasn’t an easy feat as the Lynx found themselves down 17 points in a rowdy road environment. Minnesota could have easily thrown in the towel and looked forward to Game 3 at home, but the Lynx leaned into their experience in the comeback win. ‘I asked them not to quit,’ Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve said. The Lynx now have three days rest before their semifinal series against the Mercury or Liberty, which begins on Sunday.

Golden State Valkyries’ first season

After the Valkyries suffered a one-point loss to the Lynx on Wednesday, and Golden State’s Cinderella season came to an end, the sold-out crowd at SAP Center in San Jose stood on their feet and emphatically chanted ‘GSV.’ It was a stunning display of support and highlights the expansion team’s wildly successful inaugural season, despite a quick playoff exit. WNBA Coach of the Year Natalie Nakase led the Valkyries to a playoff bid, becoming the first expansion team to make the postseason in its inaugural season. The Valkyries took the No. 1 seed down to the wire in Game 2 and were one jump shot away from notching their first playoff win.

Golden State also sold out each of their 22 regular-season games at Chase Center and set an all-time WNBA attendance record, welcoming 397,408 total fans and an average attendance of 18,064 this season. This is just the beginning for the Valkyries.

0-1 teams

Three of the four teams facing elimination in the first round of the WNBA playoffs forced a decisive Game 3. The Indiana Fever kicked things off with a 77-60 dismantling of the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday, followed by the Seattle Storm snapping the Las Vegas Aces’ 17-game win streak in an 86-83 comeback win. The Phoenix Mercury continued the trend on Wednesday with an 86-60 rout of the defending champion Liberty. The Golden State Valkyries nearly forced a Game 3 against the league-leading Minnesota Lynx, but ultimately suffered a one-point loss. 

Heading into the 2025 WNBA postseason, there were three total first-round Game 3s in over four years of this format. Now, WNBA fans will be treated to three Game 3s across Thursday and Friday alone.

Losers

Everything about the New York Liberty

The defending champion New York Liberty looked … well, beatable. The Liberty were held to 60 points, their second lowest total of the season, in Wednesday’s loss. After making 10 field goals in the first quarter, the Liberty had nine the rest of the game. New York shot a season-low 30.2% from the field, 23.1% from the 3-point line and 16-of-25 from the free throw line. 

Liberty coach Sandy Brondello had seen enough by the fourth quarter and pulled a majority of her starters, essentially waving the white flag. None of New York’s starters scored in double-digits. The Liberty squandered their chance to close out the Mercury on their home court. New York not only has to travel cross-country to Phoenix (again), it has given its opponent lots of confidence heading into Game 3. To make matters worse, the Minnesota Lynx closed out the Valkyries and will be rested for the winner of this series.

New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu

Ionescu was not a factor in Game 2. She was 3-of-13 from the field and 1-of-8 from the 3-point line. To add insult to injury, Ionescu was 2-of-6 from the free throw line. Entering Wednesday, Ionescu had not missed more than two free throws in a single game in her career. Ionescu is shooting 93.3% from the free throw line this season and 91.3% in her entire career.

‘We can’t go out and play the same way we did and expect a different result,’ Ionescu said. ‘We have to go out and make the adjustments and play like our season is on the line, because it is.’

Barclays Center

The Barclays Center caught several strays in the Mercury’s postgame on Wednesday. Following the Mercury’s win over the Liberty, Kahleah Copper and Satou Sabally both mentioned how quiet it was in the Liberty’s arena. “I didn’t think it was loud to start. I was shocked. I was expecting us to have to deal with the crowd and courtside people, but it was quiet,” Copper said. Sabally added that PHX Arena will be “louder than” New York as the series shifts back to Phoenix for a decisive Game 3. To be fair, the Liberty didn’t give their fans much to cheer for, but it remains to be seen if these comments will serve as bulletin board material. Sorry, Spike Lee.

Breanna Stewart’s knee

Breanna Stewart opted to play through an MCL sprain her left knee, but the New York Liberty forward looked like a shell of herself. She was held to six points in 20 minutes, shooting 2-of-6 from the field and 0-of-1 from the 3-point line. It’s an unfortunate development for Stewart, who previously missed 13 regular season games with a bone bruise in her right knee. There’s questions surrounding Stewart’s health and the Liberty’s ability to challenge the Mercury without her at full strength.

1-0 teams

Aside from the Minnesota Lynx, three teams failed the close out their opponent in the first-round.

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The Miami Dolphins have started their 2025 season with an 0-2 record, increasing pressure on the team’s leadership.
Upcoming nationally televised games against the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets will intensify scrutiny on the team’s performance.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s late-game interception and offensive miscues contributed to the Week 2 loss against the Patriots.

MIAMI GARDENS, FL — The Miami Dolphins are one of the teams to start 0-2 in 2025, but the booming noise around their abysmal start will only get louder with nationally televised matchups in the next two weeks.

The Dolphins will visit Josh Allen and the big, bad Buffalo Bills (especially against them) on ‘Thursday Night Football’ to begin Week 3, where a 0-3 start almost feels like a certainty. Miami will be in prime time again 11 days later hosting the New York Jets on ‘Monday Night Football’ in Week 4 on Sept. 29.

Whether or not it’s enough time for Dolphins owner Stephen Ross to make wholesale changes, the hot seat will only get hotter for coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier, while shortcomings from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and embattle receiver Tyreek Hill will be amplified if their struggles continue.

Some Dolphins fans voiced their displeasure by flying a banner that read “Fire Grier. Fire McDaniel” above Hard Rock Stadium before the team succumbed to a 33-27 loss to the New England Patriots at home on Sunday, Sept. 15.

Tagovailoa had an overthrow, endured a false start and a sack, and tossed an interception on the final drive – after running back De’Von Achane stepped out of bounds on a potential game-winning touchdown.

“We had the opportunity to win the game, and we robbed it from ourselves,” McDaniel said as his job security was questioned two games into his fourth season, following a 33-8 drubbing to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1.

Whether they scored and won or not, any chance for the Dolphins to relish or celebrate their first win of the season would have dissipated quickly before their next opponent.

Allen, the 2024 NFL MVP, is 13-2 against the Dolphins since he was drafted by the Bills in 2018.

Simply put, Allen and the Bills have become the AFC East nightmare for the Dolphins like Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the Patriots were for the previous 20 years.

This is the big picture reason why the Dolphins have the longest playoff win drought in the NFL – their last in a 2000 AFC wildcard game, the first season when quarterback Jay Fielder and coach Dave Wannstedt took over for a retired Dan Marino and former coach Jimmy Johnson.

Coach Mike Vrabel’s sideline sprint highlights milestone win for him, Patriots

The Dolphins have reached the postseason twice under McDaniel – falling in the wildcard round to the Bills in 2022 and the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023. They failed to make the playoffs with an 8-9 record last season.

While Grier acknowledged Miami has reset its roster following the departures of standouts like Jalen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith, Calais Campbell and Terron Armstead, Miami’s 0-2 start lingers with baggage from 25 years of gloom, heightened with every regular-season loss that weighs heavily on this current cast of Dolphins – unfairly or not.

“I’ve seen a team that is trying to do everything they can to win, and coming up short, and pressing forward and trying to change that result,” McDaniel said to begin the week.

“Pressure is opportunity … Obviously, we don’t want to be 0-2. We look at it as fuel to the fire,” added Hill, who had 109 yards against the Patriots, including a 47-yarder which snapped a personal streak of 371 days without a catch longer than 30 yards.

The Dolphins have been unable to weaponize Hill offensively like they did in 2023, when the former Chiefs star led the NFL in touchdown catches and receiving yards in his first season in Miami.

Tagovailoa – who was 26 of 32 for 315 yards with two touchdowns – cited procedural issues offensively on the final drive, which resulted in his fourth turnover and the first 0-2 start of his six-year NFL career.

“Anyone who knows football and anyone who doesn’t know football just knows that was not clean and that was not right, what we were doing at the end of the game,” Tagovailoa said. “We’ll get that fixed, communicate that to those guys, and we’ll move forward from there.’

Added McDaniel: “With the game on the line, our communication and our substitution was not up to par, and ultimately, I hold all responsibility for all things. I will make sure that things that should already be ironed out moving forward. We will not fall victim to the same thing again.”

The Dolphins defense has allowed a field goal or touchdown on 13 of 15 drives excluding kneel downs through two games. They allowed the Colts to score on every drive, and saw the Patriots punt just twice – the first on a drive with three New England penalties, and the second after a poor snap led to a 3rd and 26.

While Miami’s Malik Washington returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown, the Patriots answered with Antonio Gibson’s 90-yard touchdown return on the ensuing kick – the turning point before Tagovailoa’s end-game miscues.

“It’s a short week. You get this one out your head, learn from it, grow from it, and we got another divisional opponent we’ve had fits with in the past,” Dolphins edge rusher Bradley Chubb said.

Pressure is mounting for McDaniel, Tagovailoa, Grier and the Dolphins.

Their glaring miscues have led to a disappointing start in McDaniel’s fourth season, and will only be amplified in prime time in the next two weeks.

“If I worry about my job security, then I’m not doing my job,” McDaniel said.

Added Tagovailoa: “It’s one of those deals where you can never get too high in this league. You can never be too low. You’ve just got to continue to stick to your process, stay even keel, trust the guys, continue to bring those guys along.”

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Dabo Swinney dared Clemson to kick him to the curb. That won’t happen, but we can boot Clemson from playoff projections.
Notre Dame has losses to Miami and Texas A&M. So, Irish out, and Hurricanes and Aggies in.
Could we have the first 9-3 playoff qualifier? Texas might fit the bill.

Dabo Swinney begged the media to say that Clemson “sucked” after its season-opening loss to LSU. Two weeks later, he dared the university to fire him.

So, how’s Dabo’s prediction of a 16-0 Clemson season coming along? Not great!

Clemson isn’t going to fire Swinney. He knows this. He’s too accomplished, and he’s way too expensive to boot. But, I’m booting Clemson (and a few other preseason front-runners) from my College Football Playoff predictions.

Here’s my latest projection of what I think the bracket will look like come selection Sunday, Dec. 7. Subject to change, of course. As a reminder, teams do not need to be a conference champion to receive a first-round bye, after a change to straight seeding.

1. Ohio State

Most of the attention for Ohio State’s season opener against Texas featured on the Longhorns’ five-star quarterback with the famous last name. But, Ohio State unveiled a five-star of its own, and Julian Sayin is playing much better than Texas’ Arch Manning. The run game is gaining steam, and the defense is nails. A few tricky games remain on Ohio State’s schedule, starting with a Sept. 27 trip to Washington.

2. Miami

Call Carson Beck Coca-Cola, because he’s a blue-chipper who’s paying out sweet, sweet dividends after Miami’s offseason investment in the transfer from Georgia. You could say Beck has regained his 2023 form, when he was one of the nation’s best quarterbacks, but he’s actually been even better than that. It helps having receivers as good as Miami’s. A durable Hurricanes defense gives Miami the balance it lacked last season.

3. Georgia

Georgia is the only team that’s beaten Tennessee at Neyland Stadium since the start of the 2022 season. The Bulldogs needed overtime to pull it off last weekend, rallying past an early 14-point deficit. Kirby Smart’s team remains resilient. Gunner Stockton is slinging it well, and Georgia has better wide receivers than last season. The less said, the better, about how Georgia’s defense looked against Tennessee. That’s a work in progress.

4. Penn State

Here I am yucking Penn State’s yum, but not even Kentucky could have drawn up a non-conference schedule more accommodating than Penn State’s pathetic assembly of cupcakes. The Nittany Lions won’t face a real test until a Sept. 27 game against Oregon. In the meantime, Penn State is playing stingy defense, but where’s this quarterback I keep hearing could be a first-round NFL draft pick? Drew Allar needs to step it up when the real competition arrives.

5. Oregon

The Big Ten schedule breaks quite nicely for the Ducks. They’ll play at Penn State, but they avoid Ohio State, Illinois and Michigan. It’s a recipe designed for 11-plus wins, especially considering how well Dante Moore is playing as Dillon Gabriel’s heir. Coach Dan Lanning once ran Smart’s defense at Georgia, but his Oregon teams are synonymous with good quarterback play.

6. LSU

7. Oklahoma

It’s difficult to locate a team playing more balanced ball than Oklahoma. This is the type of menacing defense Oklahoma must have expected when it hired Brent Venables. The Sooners have allowed just 19 points through three games, and they haven’t even forced a turnover yet. This is pure stinginess. Transfer quarterback John Mateer is playing like a guy who’s planning on being in New York City for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.

8. Florida State

Once we took a breath and stopped firing arrows at Alabama for getting whipped at Florida State, we realized that maybe the Seminoles are pretty darn good. Coach Mike Norvell lives and dies with the transfer portal, and this looks like one of those years when he hit more than he missed. To borrow a phrase that was supposed to apply to Alabama, the Seminoles are playing with a “hard edge.”

9. Texas Tech

No wonder so many other schools tried to entice Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton to transfer. He’s a baller, tied for the nation’s lead in touchdown passes. Texas Tech assembled the best roster a billionaire booster’s money could buy. The Big 12 championship race remains more unpredictable than any conference, but Texas Tech could plant its flag at the head of the competition by beating Utah this week.

10. Texas

11. Texas A&M

Up is down and down is up when the Aggies’ defense is struggling, but their offense is firing on all cylinders. It’s also a twist to see Texas A&M pull out a difficult road game like it did at Notre Dame. Receivers Mario Craver and KC Concepcion have been great gets out of the transfer portal, helping quarterback Marcel Reed to elevate his game. The win against the Irish will be a long-term résumé booster.

12. Tulane

South Florida earned a lot of fanfare for its upset of Florida at The Swamp, but American Conference peer Tulane owns not one but two wins against Power Four opponents. The Green Wave will try for a third against Mississippi, but that game amounts to a free swing. A loss wouldn’t hamstring Tulane’s playoff pursuit. Tulane and South Florida won’t meet in the regular season. A potential conference championship clash between those teams could decide the Group of Five bid.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

Lionel Messi is Inter Miami’s all-time leader in goals scored.
A clause in Lionel Messi’s contract extension has Messi joining Jorge Mas, Jose Mas and Sir David Beckham as co-owners of Inter Miami upon retirement.
Lionel Messi has not committed to playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for defending champion Argentina.

Lionel Messi is close to signing a contract extension with Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami.

Messi is set to sign for at least two more seasons through 2027, a person with direct knowledge of the contract negotiations told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday, Sept. 17.

The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because negotiations are ongoing.

MLS will need to approve the deal once Messi and Inter Miami iron out the final details. The deal is about 85 percent done, the person said.

Messi sees the idea of prolonging his career as a chance to further Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, the United States and globally, the person added.

Messi will join Jorge Mas, Jose Mas and Sir David Beckham as co-owners of Inter Miami upon retirement — a clause he agreed to in his initial deal with the club and MLS in 2023.

Inter Miami will open its new stadium project Miami Freedom Park in 2026, where Messi is expected to play with the club in the venue’s debut.

Messi, 38, will turn 39 during the 2026 World Cup, and will turn 40 during the 2027 MLS season.

Messi shed light on his pending contract extension following the last World Cup qualifying match of his career earlier this month. He shared excitement about potentially playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup without declaring his intentions to play in next summer’s tournament.

“Because of my age, the most logical thing is that I won’t make it. But well, we’re almost there so I’m excited and motivated to play it,” Messi said after scoring twice for Argentina against Venezuela in his final World Cup qualifier in his home country on Sept. 4.

“Like I always say, I go day by day, match by match. That’s it taking it day by day, going by how I feel. Day by day, trying to feel good and above all, being honest with myself,” Messi added.

“When I feel good, I enjoy it. But when I don’t, honestly, I don’t have a good time, so I prefer not to be there if I don’t feel good. So, we’ll see. I haven’t made a decision about the World Cup.’

Messi added: ‘Match by match, I’ll finish the season, then I’ll have preseason, and there will be six months left. So, we’ll see how I feel. Hopefully I’ll have a good preseason in 2026, and finish this MLS season well, and then I’ll decide.”

Messi is Inter Miami’s all-time leader with 62 goals and 29 assists — achievements he quickly reached since the club made its MLS debut in 2020.

Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, led Inter Miami to the 2023 Leagues Cup title shortly after his July 2023 arrival to Major League Soccer and the U.S.

Messi fueled Inter Miami to the best regular season in MLS history while winning MVP in 2024. However, Inter Miami was eliminated in the first round by Atlanta United in the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs.

Inter Miami has fallen short for three trophies already in 2025, losing in the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup, the Round of 16 in the FIFA Club World Cup, and most recently the 2025 Leagues Cup final.

Messi has 28 goals and 14 assists in 36 matches across all competitions this season. He is second in MLS with 20 goals, and second with 31 total goal contributions as Inter Miami has a chance to contend for the 2025 Supporters’ Shield with a push to the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Inter Miami is fifth in the MLS Eastern Conference, and return to action on Saturday, Sept. 20 against D.C. United at Chase Stadium.

USA TODAY Sports’ 48-page special edition commemorates 30 years of Major League Soccer, from its best players to key milestones and championship dynasties to what exciting steps are next with the World Cup ahead. Order your copy today!

A college football landscape that’s often described by its biggest detractors as lawless and chaotic just got a little bit more order.

The NCAA Division I Administrative Committee voted on Wednesday, Sept. 17 to eliminate the spring transfer portal window.

Though a single transfer portal window has yet to be officially determined, FBS and FCS oversight committees will consider modifications to the proposed January window, which would run from Jan. 2-11. Discussions will include the length of the window and exact dates, with a final decision expected in October.

The spring transfer window had become a point of contention for many coaches across the sport in recent years, with rosters undergoing significant changes at a relatively late stage in the college football calendar. This year, more than 1,000 FBS players transferred during the spring.

At the annual American Football Coaches Association convention in January, coaches unanimously advocated for there to be a single transfer window.

Under the existing FBS and FCS proposals, players could enter their names in the portal and be contacted by interested schools beginning Jan. 2, the day after the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Players whose teams remain in the playoff past that point would have five days beginning the day after their team’s final postseason game to enter the portal.

The Administrative Committee also voted to remove the exemption that allowed graduate transfers to enter the portal in the fall, meaning they, too, will have to wait until what’s expected to be the single portal window in January. Last year, graduate transfers were allowed to enter the portal as early as Oct. 1.

It marks the latest contraction of the transfer window for college football players. During the 2022-23 offseason, one year after the NCAA first allowed players to transfer once without the penalty of sitting out a season, the window was open for a combined 60 days. That shrunk to 45 days in 2023-24 and 30 in 2024-25.

The Washington Commanders will soon have a new command center.

After a long process that was far from easy, the D.C. Council gave its stamp of approval on Wednesday, greenlighting the $3.8 billion stadium project in an 11-2 vote. That final approval means the Commanders are set to move back to the district following nearly three decades in Landover, Maryland.

The agreement will see the Commanders build a new 65,000-seat venue on the RFK Stadium site, which served as the home for the franchise from 1961 to 1996.

It was far from easy for both sides to reach this point, but team owner Josh Harris has a reason to celebrate, releasing the following statement:

‘Today is a historic day for D.C., the Commanders organization and our fans,’ Harris said. ‘With the council’s approval, we can now move forward on the transformative RFK project that will bring lasting economic growth for our city. This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication between Mayor Bowser, Chairman Mendelson, the council and the countless community, buinsess and labor leaders whose voices and input helps shape the process every step of the way. We are deeply grateful for the warm return to the district and the center of the DMV, and look forward to officially bringing the team back to its spiritual home in 2030.’

The stadium is set to open in 2030, just in time to host big events like the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup and potentially the Super Bowl.

RFK Now!, a grassroots campaign organized by community members, also celebrated the deal.

“This once-in-a-generation deal will benefit District residents for decades to come,” Malcom Fox, Executive Director of Opportunity DC and Organizer of RFK Now! said in a statement. “The $3.7B investment in Ward 7 will help create the housing, jobs and small businesses necessary to ensure more District residents can afford to live here and have the opportunities to thrive.”

It wasn’t always a given that the sides would reach this point, however.

In July, the mayor expressed some concern that the deal initially announced in April would fall apart, with only four council members expressing their support at the time.

‘I’m concerned right now that everybody buckle down and get to work,’ Bowser said. ‘I’m not concerned about our deal. Our deal is solid. It pays off for D.C. And at the end of the day, I think everybody wants the same thing.’

Delays in the voting process also saw the expiration of the exclusive negotiating window for the team, opening up the possibility of the team exploring other areas.

Council president Mendelson maintained that he wouldn’t hold a vote on the project during the council’s summer recess, refusing to commit to a vote in early September.

The Commanders issued a statement at the time, highlighting the concerns with delaying a vote, saying it would jeopardize the stadium’s ability to host those marquee events. Despite those obstacles, the project is now a reality and provides a light at the end of the tunnel at their current home.

Northwest Stadium, formerly known as FedEx Field, has been the subject of criticism in recent years as a stadium that was in desperate need of some improvements. Harris, just a few seasons into his ownership of the team, has continued to deliver on his promises to fans.

As Harris continues to stack wins off the field, he’ll hope that the team’s new home continues to see plenty of them on it.

Patrick Mahomes leads all NFL quarterbacks in rushing yards through the first two games of the season.
Mahomes’ increased running may be a sign of desperation due to a depleted wide receiver corps and offensive struggles.
Coach Andy Reid expressed concern about the number of hits Mahomes is taking, despite recognizing his competitive nature.

KANSAS CITY, MO – Crazylegs?

If he keeps this up, Patrick Lavon Mahomes II might be destined to add another distinction to his remarkable NFL resume: Thousand-yard rusher.

The Kansas City Chiefs star not only leads his team in rushing – his 123 yards is the most he’s ever had through two games – but has also run for more yards than any quarterback in the league. More than Lamar Jackson. More than Josh Allen, Justin Fields, Jayden Daniels and Jalen Hurts. Granted, it’s way early. But he’s on pace to run for 1,045 yards. Whoa.

No, it is hardly the plan for Mahomes to become a modern-day version of Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch. As the Chiefs (0-2) head to the Meadowlands for a Sunday night matchup against the New York Giants, Mahomes’ running has a distinct, half-full/half-empty flow about it.

Sure, in a game where mobile quarterbacks can break down a defense in a heartbeat, Mahomes’ legs are lethal weapons that complement his magnificent arm. Yet for a unit that has lacked explosive plays and rhythm while stung by a depleted wide receiver corps, Mahomes’ running screams of desperation.

“It’s just kind of happening,” Mahomes said after the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, when his regular-season career-high 66 rushing yards on seven carries included a 13-yard touchdown dive to the pylon.

“At the end of the day, I’m a competitor. I’m just trying to win. Whatever it takes, I’ll do. It’s been running a few times, early this season. We’ll get back to passing the ball and hopefully be better at it as the season rolls along.”

Extenuating circumstances have clearly had an effect as Mahomes is tied for 15th in the NFL for passing yards (445) and 24th for pass efficiency (82.0). Kansas City’s top receiver, Rashee Rice, is serving a six-game suspension stemming from his 2024 freeway-racing auto crash, while Xavier Worthy hasn’t played since suffering a dislocated shoulder during a collision with tight end Travis Kelce on the first series in the season opener. Timing issues in the passing game were glaring during the setback on Sunday, and it hasn’t helped that running backs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt have not exactly picked up the slack.

Under these conditions, it seems that Mahomes, who turned 30 on Wednesday, has tried to fill in gaps with his legs while searching for answers.

The 0-2 Kansas City Chiefs are in staggering unchartered territory in Patrick Mahomes era

“The one big scramble I had early in the game, if I had waited just a little bit longer, JuJu (Smith-Schuster) ended up opening in a spot,” Mahomes said, referring to his season-long, 22-yard scramble in the second quarter on Sunday. “If I had stretched my drop I would’ve probably hit JuJu for the same distance.

“That’s stuff I’ve got to do better at. Trusting the guys that they’re going to get open and trusting the offensive line and their blocking. So, taking what the defense is giving you and then let guys make plays down the field.”

If it were only so easy. Usually, Mahomes, who rushed for 57 yards in the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, saves his most prolific running for the do-or-die stakes of the postseason. His career high of 69 yards came in the 2021 AFC divisional playoff against Buffalo and the only other time he ran for 66 yards occurred in the Super Bowl 58 triumph against San Francisco. Yet in the first two games this season, he’s been more prone than normal to bolt from the pocket to take advantage of defenses that have left him unaccounted for while blanketing his targets with man-to-man coverage.

Still, Chiefs Kingdom probably held its collective breath late in the first half on Sunday, when Mahomes lowered his shoulder on rookie safety Andrew Mukuba in the open field to convert on a third down in the red zone. On the next play, he scrambled for his touchdown.

“I usually don’t try to run over big guys,” Mahomes said. “I can kind of hit and fall forward, not run over. But I think I do a good job of protecting myself and yet (you have to) be smart in those situations. I just learn from experience.”

Chiefs coach Andy Reid maintained, “I don’t want to see him get the big hits,” yet also recognizes what he’s dealing with: an ultra-competitor.

“He’ll probably tell you the same thing, He trains that way,” Reid said. “He goes after it, and he’s not going to not take an opportunity if it’s given.”

Reid’s point about training brings to mind insight Mahomes shared about his offseason regimen during a training camp interview with USA TODAY Sports. As his 30th birthday approached, part of the focus in working with his longtime trainer, Bobby Stroupe, involved trying to better gird for the contact that comes with his hazardous duty. On top of absorbing and reacting to contact, he sought to strengthen his ankles, given injuries in recent years.

“We always modify what I do, based on the things I was presented the year before,” Mahomes said. “So, being able to do different ankle mobility stuff off ankle injuries and stuff like that. As my body changes, I may not have the same amount of speed, so adding a little more acceleration. Stuff like that, to make sure I stay on top of that. But we modify my training every year, based off the film study and what we see the year before.”

Well, the fresh film this season may be rather revealing, too. It undoubtedly illuminates how the Chiefs’ quintessential hero needs to be subjected to only so many blows – and can use a bit more help in trying to help a once-prolific offense get its groove back.

Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on social media: On X: @JarrettBell

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