The ‘quandary’ for Chiefs: Rest Mahomes or go for No. 1 seed? What pundits are saying
The Chiefs are in the driver’s seat to get the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs — and the all-important bye week that goes with it — but there is still work to be done.
Unfortunately, the Chiefs are heading into the worst stretch of their season with quarterback Patrick Mahomes not at full strength. Mahomes suffered an ankle injury in Sunday’s 21-7 win over the Browns.
The Chiefs, 13-1, hold a two-game lead over the Bills, 11-3, for the top spot in the AFC, but Buffalo holds the tiebreaker. The Chiefs play on short rest Saturday against the Texans, then travel to Pittsburgh for a game just four days later.
To end the season, the Chiefs face the Broncos in Denver. Those final three opponents are among the top six in the AFC, so it’s a difficult stretch for KC.
The question facing the Chiefs: Should they rest Mahomes for one or more games or have him play on an ankle that’s not fully healthy to try and secure the No. 1 seed?
What makes this question all the more intriguing is their last two Super Bowl championships came with Mahomes playing on a gimpy ankle (2022 season) and with the Chiefs playing two playoff road games (last season).
NFL pundits shared their thoughts on what the Chiefs should do going forward. Here’s what some of them were saying.
Former Pro Football Focus writer Sam Monson said he would rest Mahomes this weekend.
Geoff Schwartz, the former Chiefs offensive lineman, said he expects Mahomes to play Saturday against the Texans at Arrowhead Stadium. He noted on “Money Moves” the Chiefs are looking to rest the entire team in a playoff bye week.
“He’s not going to miss this game. That’s not who he is,” Schwartz said. “He was able to walk off the field. He would have come back if the game mattered at all. They’re up two touchdowns five minutes left, they put (Carson) Wentz in. The important part about what the Chiefs are trying to do is not just get Mahomes rest (but) get the whole team rest. They had their bye in Week 6.
“Chris Jones is older. Travis Kelce is older. Joe Thuney is older. There are a lot of players on this team that need a nice stretch of time off for the postseason. And if you can get Mahomes to battle through this week and get a win and then do whatever you have to get to Pittsburgh and win that game, you have the one seed, and you can sit out Week 18 and the bye week. You can sit out three whole weeks, basically a month before you play your next game.”
The “Good Morning Football” crew on the NFL Network talked about whether or not to play Mahomes and referred to it as a “quandary.” Kyle Brandt said he’d keep Mahomes out for the final three regular-season games.
“If I’m going with a nuclear option of roll him out there, we need these wins or keep him back, I am definitely keeping him off the field,” Brandt said. “I’m not even talking about for this week. I’m not talking about for Christmas. I also would give him the final week of the regular season and just let it be. The reason why: Last year they’re in the Wild Card game. They didn’t have the one (seed) last year. And they also won at Buffalo last year.
“They always beat Buffalo in the playoffs. I would much rather take my shot winning through the wild card and in Buffalo with Mahomes. ... They’re not going to win the AFC if Patrick Mahomes is limping around. If the prognosis is bad, I’d keep him off the field as long as possible.”
Peter Schrager thinks Mahomes could benefit from having the next two games to rest the ankle.
“Can Carson Wentz go and beat the Houston Texans at home?” Schrager asked. “Can they get that job done? Then in four days, four days from Saturday to Wednesday, they have to go play the Steelers in Pittsburgh. If I were to tell you that Patrick Mahomes could have the next two full weeks off, let this thing heal, and then finish up in Week 18, and then go have a bye week, have another week and then play in the playoffs, I think you would sign up for that.”
Here’s an option that was pitched to me: Have the Chiefs start Wentz on Saturday against the Texans. If the Chiefs are trailing in the fourth quarter, bring in Mahomes. He has a ridiculous .500 record in games when the Chiefs are down in the fourth quarter, the best in NFL history.
Hey, it’s just one theory among many being shared.
This story was originally published December 17, 2024 at 8:28 AM.
