Pro Football Focus grades can be used in and around other context to tell a story.

For sure, some of the grading is easier than others.

A quarterback misfiring while staring down a wide open player is one thing. But who can say where a defensive back was supposed to be based on the rules of his defense on a specific week? How does that impact the quarterback? And what about an offensive play-call was helping the signal caller? And what poor execution put said quarterback in a no-win spot?

Patrick Mahomes looked like a good quarterback in gutting the Arizona Cardinals defense for a raw box score of 360 yards and five touchdowns while completing 30-of-39 passes. He nearly threw at least one pick — but didn’t — and for sure didn’t need to make any magic against a defense letting him literally underhand throw for a touchdown.

But PFF graded him as having the eighth-best day of any quarterback on Sunday. That set off the anti-PFF crowd and, unsurprisingly, Kansas City Chiefs fans on Monday.

PFF's highest-graded QBs in Week 1 so far

1. Josh Allen – 91.5
2. Kirk Cousins – 85.1
3. Ryan Tannehill – 81.1
4. Justin Herbert – 79.8
5. Jameis Winston – 79.6
6. Lamar Jackson – 76.8
6. Jalen Hurts – 76.8
8. Patrick Mahomes – 71.5
9. Tom Brady – 70.0
10. Davis Mills – 68.1

— Jarad Evans (@PFF_Jarad) September 12, 2022

You can scan this thread between NFL reporter Matt Verderame and PFF analyst Sam Monson if you want to read explanation of why Mahomes might get a worse grade than Ryan Tannehill, Jameis Winston and Jalen Hurts, who all had fine games.

If you would rather just laugh at how the internet took Mahomes’ big day to be pretty blah by PFF standards, see below.

PFF back for another season of crapping on Patrick Mahomes: https://t.co/qo4WQ4jzUb pic.twitter.com/8NrmiZq22x

— ChiefsJayhawksRoyals (@CJR16255) September 12, 2022

Patrick Mahomes after seeing this tweet pic.twitter.com/6wNjaXUNDE

— Jarad Evans (@PFF_Jarad) September 12, 2022

I was today years old when I learned that Patrick Mahomes should get a worse coach if he wants to be graded higher by PFF.

— Zack Eisen (@zackeisen21) September 12, 2022

Remember when PFF wrote Brady’s eulogy like 8 years ago?

Now they’re mad that Mahomes throws shovel TDs https://t.co/KuGyIuJ3PH

— John (@Johnnyp135DFS) September 12, 2022

The PFF grade undervalued Mahomes. But the real story behind the evaluation is likely how easy the Cardinals defense made it for Mahomes or probably in their view any replacement level quarterback.

— Kyle Clark (@kyclark) September 12, 2022

Everyone with a brain: Mahomes was absurd yesterday

PFF: he wasn’t as good as Ryan Tannehill https://t.co/H5HvHqvBMg

— Leader with cable (@SullyChiefs) September 12, 2022

Mahomes: 30/39, 360, 5 TD, 0 INT
Brady: 18/27, 212, 1 TD, 1 INT

PFF: "Looks about the same to me!" https://t.co/kRAKSrfPLf

— Ryan Landreth (@ryan_landreth) September 12, 2022

Not pictured: Veach slipping PFF cash to downgrade Mahomes so Patrick stays in FU mode all year. https://t.co/RqYx1ONv25

— Joseph Tamburo (@Joetamburo) September 12, 2022

I'm so disappointed in Mahomes today. He had nine incompletions and Andy benched him late in the 4th. Mahomes clearly misses Hill. @hbtCHIEFS @BrandonPerna @ArrowheadPride @ChiefsInsider @BritChiefUK @cdotharrison @KyleBrandt @PFF_Sam @TheSamAcho @BartScott57

— BIGKC913 (@BigKC913WYCO) September 12, 2022

seeing the tweet about mahomes pff grade yesterday and honestly i thought he was more of a 67.6 pff grade. some thought he was a 81.9 pff grade, others a 77.7 pff grade. me? that’s what i thought his pff grade was.

— Bill DiFilippo (@billdifilippo) September 12, 2022

PFF graders watching Mahomes flawlessly 40 ball another team but his cadence was slightly off-pitch pic.twitter.com/UYJ8zFKQWJ

— 🌸sports tweeter Matthias🌸 (tone setter) (@KryzivenTake2) September 12, 2022

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