As the Kansas City Chiefs gear up for their season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers on January 7, star quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ possible absence has been a concern. Mahomes, who hinted at the possibility of a new coach for playoffs, will not play in the regular season’s finale.
This decision has sparked discussions about the team’s approach, with fans speculating that the QB might be injured, and this is the reason he will not play in the game.
Is Patrick Mahomes’ Week 18 absence injury-related?
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid announced Blaine Gabbert will start in Week 18 instead of Patrick Mahomes.
But the good news is that the QB’s absence is not due to injury. Instead, it’s a strategic decision to keep him rested for the upcoming AFC playoffs.
Reid mentioned it’s not performance-based, and other key players, like Travis Kelce, are likely to be kept out of the lineup as well. If Travis Kelce does not play, it will give him a chance to join his girlfriend on the red carpet. But he is close to achieving a record, so the coach might ask him to play in the game.
Patrick Mahomes becomes the second starting NFL quarterback to sit out the final regular-season game, joining Joe Flacco of the Cleveland Browns.
Last week, the Chiefs secured the AFC West title with a win over the Cincinnati Bengals, placing them as the No. 3 seed in the AFC. Since the regular-season finale won’t impact the Chiefs’ playoff position, Reid sees it as more beneficial to rest starters and avoid injury risks.
Reid emphasizes the significance of having a good week of preparation, even if the starters do not play in the Week 18 game. For players dealing with injuries, Reid wants them to focus on rehab rather than playing in the final regular-season game.
Heading into the Week 18 matchup, the Los Angeles Chargers stand at 5–11, while the Kansas City Chiefs have a 10–6 record.
Chiefs coaches speak Patrick Mahomes’ 2023 growth
After clinching their eighth consecutive AFC West title with a win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17, the coaches talked about Patrick Mahomes’ growth this year.
Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and quarterbacks coach David Girardi discussed the growth they’ve seen in Mahomes’ mindset during a challenging offensive season. Girardi noted changes in how defenses are playing Patrick Mahomes, emphasizing his adaptability to the evolving defensive strategies over the years.
“The way defenses are playing him,” Girardi observed, “it’s a lot different than what it was in 2018, 2019. and 2020. So, he’s had to adapt a little bit.”
Nagy praised Mahomes’ smart decision-making during the Bengals game, highlighting instances where he avoided taking bad sacks or making risky throws.
“There’s a few plays where it wasn’t there,” Nagy recalled, “and [Mahomes] took off and ran. Or if there is a play that’s there — and he feels fast in the pocket — now it’s don’t take a bad sack, a coverage sack. Throw the ball away.”
Coaches stressed the importance of being efficient with the ball and adapting to defenses on a week-to-week and season-long basis.
“That’s a constant conversation we have,” the coach stated. “We’ve got to see how defenses are playing. It’s a week-to-week basis. Also, [recognize] the trend of the year like what’s kind of happening.”
Both coaches emphasized that, for Patrick Mahomes, team success matters most, even with the current focus on the Chiefs’ exceptional defense delivering wins.
“For Pat, it’s all about he just wants to win,” Nagy reaffirmed, “and he’s smart enough to understand that every year’s different.”
Nagy highlighted the QB’s understanding that every year is different, requiring adaptation to people, situations, and evolving team identities. Girardi agreed with Mahomes’ competitive mindset, emphasizing his desire to win regardless of how it’s achieved.
Despite challenges in the regular season, Nagy recognized the opportunity to put concerns to rest by performing well in the playoffs.
“However, it goes on, we just want to play complementary football, and we know that going into the playoffs that it doesn’t matter how you win. If you win, everybody will be happy.”
He asserted that the team never wants to change its goal of scoring a lot of points, emphasizing excellence in various aspects like third down, red zone efficiency, and ball protection.
As the team is already qualified for the playoffs, fans’ hopes are higher that Patrick Mahomes will once again help the Chiefs secure the coveted Super Bowl title.
