Patrick Mahomes on playing indoors: “I don’t think it makes too big of a difference”

On Sunday, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will play his first regular-season NFL game on an indoor field: Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.

Once fans (and media) realized that this would be the first time Mahomes would be playing in an ideal environment, there was immediate speculation on how that might improve his performance.

But when the press asked him about it on Wednesday, the reigning NFL MVP didn’t seem to think it would change matters much.

“Other than if it’s raining or snowing outside, I don’t think it makes too big of a difference,” said Mahomes. “I know when [you] get out there, you still have to play football — to make the throws. I’ve played in [domes] a couple of times, and it’s just like any other football game.”

But will it change Mahomes’ preparation?

”No... not at all,” he said. “I mean, we practice inside. I’ve played a few games inside before. We played the preseason last year inside some. You just prepare like if it’s any other football game. I think that’s how you do regardless if you’re in a dome [or] if it’s snowing [or] if it’s raining. You just have to make sure you’re ready with whatever the elements or the circumstances are.”

In this way, Mahomes is learning from his head coach (and mentor) Andy Reid, who somewhat famously sticks to his game week routine. Mahomes seemed much more interested in the Detroit Lions’ defense than he was about playing indoors.

”They played physical football,” he said of the upcoming opponent’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3. “They played a lot of man coverage. They really got up in everybody’s face. And then they stopped the run game for the most part.

“I think the biggest thing they did against the Eagles was that they capitalized on turnovers,” he added. “I think that [is] a big thing that they focus on: trying to get that ball out — if it’s interceptions or trying to strip the ball from the guys running with it. That’s a big thing that they capitalize on. So we’re going to try and protect the ball and move the ball down the field.”

Whether the field is indoors... or outdoors.