Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes returned to Arrowhead Stadium against the Denver Broncos, sparking a wide range of takes, including a memorable one from former teammate Alex Smith, who has been complimentary of coach Andy Reid and his team in recent weeks.

Smith made a crucial point before the game that often gets lost amid Mahomes' milestones, highlighting one of the Chiefs quarterback's best attributes in a wild revelation.

“I think the thing that jumps out to me and people don't realize, they see the ridiculous highlight plays, the improvisation, kind of these recess plays, that Patrick has, but I think the thing that no one knows about him, he is the best quarterback at the line of scrimmage in the NFL,” Smith said. “That entire rookie year of his, he beat me to the facility every day. Like I would come in the quarterback room early, and I had my routine down, right.

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“I had three kids, I was so good at preparing, and you come in, and Patrick would be there, writing down the plays because he was trying to learn the terminology…This guy prepares like no other. This guy prepares like the best in the NFL, that's why he is the best in the NFL.”

Mahomes managed to throw for over 3,500 yards last season and ran for a career-high 422 yards before tearing the ACL and LCL on his left knee. Monday marked a chance for Mahomes to showcase the MVP talents that helped him win three Super Bowls in Kansas City, on the strength of world-class preparation habits his peers know all too well.