By Sam Kombrink
The Kansas City Chiefs are headed to the AFC Championship for the third year in a row and will face the Buffalo Bills. The Chiefs are the first team in AFC history to host the AFC Championship three years in a row.
On Sunday the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Cleveland Browns by a score of 22-17. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes left the game in the third quarter after struggling to stand up after a tackle to the back of the head/neck and is currently in the NFL’s 5-step concussion protocol.
“You just have to move forward and make sure you have an answer if he’s there and the answer if he’s not there,” head coach Andy Reid said during a press conference on January 18. “I can’t tell you from a medical standpoint. That’s their decision and I just follow it.” Reid said he would have a plan on whether Mahomes or back up Chad Henne will start Sunday against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship.
Oddsmakers are expecting Mahomes to play and currently have them as three-point favorites to beat Buffalo. (Favorite: KC, Line: -3.0, total: 55.0). Fans should expect Patrick Mahomes to recover and be ready to play Sunday. Both teams are playing great football right now, but where I think the Chiefs really find success is if both the offensive and defensive lines outplay Buffalo’s. If quarterback Chad Henne starts on Sunday, then I believe that the Chiefs can remain in the game. The defense and special teams would have to play their best game all season, and creative play calls on offense would have to be successful. If Mahomes does not play, then it would be tough to keep up with Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen.
I do believe Mahomes will be healthy enough to play Sunday and the Chiefs will win the AFC Championship. The chiefs will win because they have a more physical Offensive and Defensive line, a more talented roster, and a coaching staff with far more playoff experience. This team will keep finding a way to win football games.