Chiefs: Who Plays, Who Doesn’t and For How Long – Now that the Kansas City Chiefs have locked up a first round Bye for the postseason, the big question becomes: who plays, who doesn’t and for how long? Here’s what I’m thinking…
QB Patrick Mahomes
While Head Coach Andy Reid says we might see backup QB, Chad Henne on Sunday vs the Chargers, it’s also clear that the Chiefs didn;t look sharp in win #14 against the Falcons. I expect to see Mahomes for the first half… the first quarter at a minimum. There’s even a chance PMII will play the first drive of the 3rd quarter just to keep him in the flow of making halftime adjustments and then coming out of the locker room and executing the new plan.
RBs and Le’Veon Bell
Bell should play and be the starter. Darrel Williams had 10 carriers to Bell’s 7 on Sunday but it’s Darrel’s style of running that I think Reid prefers: a straight forward, one cut and go approach as opposed to Bell’s dance until a hole opens approach. Darwin Williams should get 40% of the RB snaps and Darrel WIlliams will sit.
Offensive Linemen
I won’t be at all surprised to see the current starters along the offensive line start the whole game. They need the work, as long as no one gets hurt. LT Eric Fisher could be the only one who sits for the better part of the second half. OG Stefen Wisniewski should find time this week and it would be nice to see OL Martinas Rankin get snaps as well. Don’t expect to see RT Mitchell Schwartz the rest of this season, including postseason.
TE Travis Kelce
Kelce should mirror Patrick Mahomes snaps. Kelce can put the single season TE record for receiving yards way out there, a record he already owns after 15 games. That may be another reason Reid plays Mahomes and Kelce throughout the first half.
Wide Receivers
Sammy Watkins should get the full game off since he tweaked his calf. If Tyreek Hill has any discomfort or strained muscles at all, you can expect to only see him on the sidelines.
Defensive Linemen
The starters should play the first half to 3 quarters. Probably longer than Mahomes and Kelce do on offense. The defensive line ranks 21st in 2020 in Teams Sack Percentage as well as 14th over the last three games. IOW, they need work to improve. The only thing might be… that Spags decides they need rest more than work.
Linebackers
With each of the Chiefs starting LBs — Anthony Hitchens, Damien Wilson, and Ben Neimann — missing time in last weeks game with injury issues, it’s likely that they all sit out the whole game so that they will have multiple weeks to get ready for the postseason. That means that Willie Gay gets loads of snaps… and that’s a good thing. I’m hoping Gay forces some other LB off the field in the playoffs, based upon his recent performance. Emmanuel Smith and Omaro Cobb should get plenty of reps.
Cornerbacks
The starters should start but exit about he same time the DL exits. I also won’t be surprised to see DeAndre Baker get significant snaps. For some reason, Spags has been reticent to hand out snaps to first time rookie Willie Gay at Linebacker but has had no problem giving rookie WIllie Sneed starting snaps from day one. While Spags may tell you, “He earned it”… I’m just saying he should have no problem giving Baker snaps in a meaningless game 16, to see what he’s got prior to the offseason.
The Safety Position
Tyrann Mathieu (6th in the NFL with 6 INTs in 2020) should be the biggest beneficiary of finding time on the sidelines this week, along with Daniel Sorensen. Juan Thornhill may get a rest later in the game but still needs work to regain the game speed he once had.
Special Teams
Kicker Harrison Butker and Punter Tommy Townsend will get their normal reps, but Demarcus Robinson will likely fill in for Mecole Hardman returning kicks, giving him a break.
From NFL.com comes this news about the Chiefs possibly sitting players this week:
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters that there is a good chance Chad Henne will start over Patrick Mahomes and other starters will sit Week 17 vs. the Chargers after K.C. clinched homefield advantage in the AFC playoffs Sunday. In other Chiefs news, Rapoport reports that Sammy Watkins’ calf injury is not believed to be serious, though he’ll likely sit this Sunday.
Chad Henne will start… if… Mahomes looks sharp in practice this week. Otherwise… see above.
Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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