The quarterback said the break is a chance to get players healthy before the playoffs. Kansas City is aiming to win its third straight Super Bowl.
The Kansas City Chiefs are looking forward to some well-earned rest.
The Chiefs locked up the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs with their 29-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day. If the Chiefs rest their starters in their season finale against the Denver Broncos on Jan. 5, those players could have three weeks of rest going into their first playoff game. That long break could be critical to getting players back healthy as the team looks to win its third straight Super Bowl and fifth overall.
“It’s just going to be nice getting guys healthy,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes said at a press conference Monday. He pointed out that the Chiefs had an early in-season bye in Week 6, giving them 11 weeks of “grinding” made even more rigorous by the Christmas Day game, which gave them three games in 11 days.
“Getting this little break, getting back healthy, and then getting ourselves ready to go for the playoffs, it was super important, especially with the guys that we have banged up.”
The Chiefs’ daunting Christmas slate included two road games: They defeated the Browns 21-7 in Cleveland on Dec. 15; less than a week later, they held off the Houston Texans at home 27-19; and just four days after that they played Pittsburgh on the road.
Mahomes commended the Chiefs for their efforts during the three-game stint. “It showed the toughness of the team,” he said. “I think we got better as the games went on. The guys, they’re mentally tough, and they’re physically tough, and we played some really good football teams, some hard-fought battles, and the guys came away with three wins.”
The tight schedule has led to a heavy injury report. Defensive tackle Mike Pennell left the game Wednesday with a hamstring injury, but returned to the game later. Running back Isaiah Pacheco suffered a rib injury and did not return to the game. Even
before the game, Kansas City was without several key
players: Cornerback Chamarri Conner had a concussion; defensive lineman Chris Jones had a calf injury; and offensive tackle D.J. Humphries was battling a lingering hamstring injury.
A number of players have been dealing with injuries. Mahomes suffered a high ankle sprain against Cleveland but played through it all week. Others included center Creed Humphrey, safety Justin Reid, wide receivers Nikko Remigio and Xavier Worthy, cornerback Joshua Williams, and tight end Peyton Hendershot.
The Chiefs are also bare in the cupboard at wide receiver. Rashee Rice missed most of the season with an LCL injury in October. His fellow pass-catchers Mecole Hardman and Skyy Moore are also on injured reserve, along with tight ends Jody Fortson and Jared Wiley. Linebacker Jack Cochrane is also on IR. Kicker Harrison Butker returned to the lineup in December after starting the season on IR; his replacement, Spencer Shrader, is on IR with a hamstring injury.
Mahomes said that earning the No. 1 seed was “like winning a playoff game.”
“We’re playing, especially offensively, our best football at the end of the year and getting guys healthy, and we’re excited for it,” he said. “We’re going to keep working. This isn’t the end. This is just the beginning, and we will continue to work to get even better as we go into the playoffs.'’
Mahomes was not sure if the starters would play in the team’s regular season finale, saying that would be head coach Andy Reid’s decision. However, he said he would prepare as though he were going to start, noting that Denver is likely going to be a playoff team anyway.
The Chiefs have a 10-day rest period before they take on the Broncos in Denver.
