PITTSBURGH -- The Kansas City Chiefs expected a lot from Patrick Mahomes after installing him as their starting quarterback this season. But they didn't quite expect all that he has delivered thus far, including Sunday's 42-37 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"I don't think that you could expect more from anyone," said wide receiver Chris Conley, who caught one of Mahomes' team-record-tying six touchdown passes on Sunday. "Pat's come here and handled himself extremely well. The level of confidence and poise that this kid has ... I haven't seen it anywhere. He's continued to go in, learn and get better every day and then come out on the field and execute.
"You can't ask him to do anything else. He's handled the times where he's made the plays really well. He's handled the times where he hasn't. That speaks volumes."
Mahomes was close to flawless on Sunday, when he threw more touchdown passes than incompletions (five). He was 23-for-28 for 326 yards and a passer rating of 154.8, or less than four points from the highest possible number.
Mahomes, who threw four touchdown passes last week in Kansas City's season-opening win over the Los Angeles Chargers, set an NFL mark for scoring throws in the first three games of a career. The old record was eight, shared by Marcus Mariota and Mark Rypien. Mahomes started the final regular-season game as a rookie last season but didn't throw for a touchdown.
Mahomes' 10 touchdown passes are also the most ever by a quarterback through two games in NFL history. He's only the second quarterback to throw at least four TD passes in each of the first two games of a season; Drew Bledsoe of the New England Patriots in 1997 is the other.
"You never expect to have 10 touchdowns at this point in the season," Mahomes said. "But I knew what this offense with the weapons we had and the scheme Coach [Andy] Reid is drawing up that we had a chance to be really, really good. The possibilities are endless.
"... We're not done. This is just a start. It's just the beginning of the season."
Mahomes moved the ball around well. Tight end Travis Kelce and wide receivers Sammy Watkins and Tyreek Hill each had at least five catches. Kelce and Watkins each had at least 100 receiving yards, while Hill finished with 90.
Five players had at least one touchdown catch, with Kelce leading the way with two.
"I see Pat doing this all season long," Kelce said. "He's got the confidence, and as long as we give him time and get open as wideouts, tight ends and running backs, he's going to get the best of everyone.''