One of the takeaways from SI.com:
2. The Chiefs figure to enter the playoffs as a dangerous fourth seed, thanks in large part to the revival of a run game that fueled their 5–0 start. However the team is locked into that position, opening an opportunity for a possible tire-kicking of rookie QB Patrick Mahomes, who wowed the staff during the summer, next week in Denver. Kansas City head coach Andy Reid pushed the decision down the road, saying on Sunday—while dressed up as Santa Claus—“We’ll get through Christmas and then we’ll get on that.”
We’ll learn plenty about the Chiefs’ comfort level with Mahomes—who needed time to develop coming into the league—based on whether or not they decide to put the rookie into real game action. Barring a Super Bowl run, a real decision looms for February and March, and it will likely be dictated not by Alex Smith’s play, but where Mahomes is in his development. If they feel like he’s ready for next year, Smith would have trade value, with the final year of his deal ticketing him for a very affordable $17 million for 2018.
2. The Chiefs figure to enter the playoffs as a dangerous fourth seed, thanks in large part to the revival of a run game that fueled their 5–0 start. However the team is locked into that position, opening an opportunity for a possible tire-kicking of rookie QB Patrick Mahomes, who wowed the staff during the summer, next week in Denver. Kansas City head coach Andy Reid pushed the decision down the road, saying on Sunday—while dressed up as Santa Claus—“We’ll get through Christmas and then we’ll get on that.”
We’ll learn plenty about the Chiefs’ comfort level with Mahomes—who needed time to develop coming into the league—based on whether or not they decide to put the rookie into real game action. Barring a Super Bowl run, a real decision looms for February and March, and it will likely be dictated not by Alex Smith’s play, but where Mahomes is in his development. If they feel like he’s ready for next year, Smith would have trade value, with the final year of his deal ticketing him for a very affordable $17 million for 2018.
