The Kansas City Chiefs are set to give starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes some much-needed time off in Week 18 as the team prepares for the AFC playoffs later this month.
Veteran signal-caller Carson Wentz is set to see his first meaningful action under center with the Chiefs when Kansas City squares off against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, January 5, though it remains to be seen if the Super Bowl LII champion will be a natural fit in Andy Reid’s high-octane offense.
Historically, Reid’s backups have played relatively well when called into action late in the season during the Mahomes era.
In 2019, veteran second-stringer Matt Moore successfully shepherded the Chiefs to a 1-1 record in two starts while Mahomes was sidelined due to injury.
Then, in 2022, journeyman Chad Henne helped Kansas City win a Divisional Round playoff matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a 98-yard drive that was a legendary moment in the Chiefs’ run to Super Bowl LVII.
Though the outcome of Kansas City’s Week 18 matchup against the Broncos won’t matter given that the Chiefs have already locked up the No. 1 seed for the AFC playoffs, Wentz will get a chance to prove that he still has what it takes to succeed against a better-than-average NFL opponent.
Fans should expect Wentz to protect the football, utilize his running backs in the passing game, and look to distribute targets to some of Kansas City’s lesser-known playmakers as the Chiefs endeavor to finish the regular season with a 16-1 record.