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Patrick Mahomes and his Kansas City Chiefs have secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC, but their strategy for Week 18 is raising eyebrows. Coach Andy Reid‘s decision to rest some of his top players, including Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Chris Jones, has people scratching their heads.
It’s not the first time Reid rested players when the stakes were not playoff-related. Simms also says that a similar strategy led to the Ravens’ stunning playoff loss in 2020.
The Chiefs Shocking Loss to Broncos
Still, the Chiefs blew out the Denver Broncos 38-0 on the rest. This was the first time that Kansas City has been shut under Reid, increasing more doubts over whether the Chiefs are risking their playoff hopes.
Despite the shutout loss, the Chiefs remain strong playoff contenders with their impressive regular-season record. Reid’s strategy is a calculated gamble — hoping to keep his stars healthy and giving his backups valuable experience.
Former NFL quarterback Chris Simms was quick to sound the alarm. On The LeBatard Show, Simms said that the extra rest, which kept key players out of action for nearly three and a half weeks, could leave the Chiefs “out of rhythm” come playoff time. He mentioned the Baltimore Ravens’ shocking loss to the Tennessee Titans in 2020 after a similar strategy, warning that it could be scary.
“That’s scary. That’s a recipe for getting upset in the divisional round, Whether it was the Parcells’ Giants or the Belichick’s Patriots, they had a lot of games where Week 17 was all locked up. They didn’t really need to do anything, but Brady and everybody played maybe into the third quarter, and then they took them out. You want to go into the playoffs somewhat sharp and ready to go. So, I hope the Chiefs play a good majority of their guys, at least a good amount of the football game.”
The playoffs are around the corner, and it remains to be seen if Reid’s gamble will pay off or if the Chiefs will be caught flat-footed when the postseason begins. The road to the Super Bowl may be much tougher if the key players for the Chiefs are not in top form.
Also read – The MVP Race: 5 Key Contenders Who Are Making a Case for the Title
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