The Chiefs are a favorite to win not just the game against the Bills, but to win the entire dance this year again. However, this favoritism changes dramatically if they are missing what many consider to be the best quarterback in the NFL.
Most of the sporting world is focusing primarily on Mahomes limping after a bad foot placement during a play tweaked his foot and the injury was unclear as he was helped off the field late in the game vs. the Browns, but the real issue isn't his foot - which it turns out was just a problem with a toe - the real problem is that he also suffered a concussion during the same game.
Over the years, the NFL has developed stricter protocols regarding eligibility to play when a player suffers a concussion during a game and I am sure there is some behind the scenes stuff that plays out where a player would be allowed to play even if they haven't recovered. However, there is a very real fear that Mahomes could miss the playoff game against what at leas for the moment is a red-hot Buffalo side.
It is true that the Chiefs already played Buffalo (at Buffalo) in October of last year and they won quite handily. Sure, I realize that the final score in that game was 26-17 and that isn't really a blowout but it was 23-10 until the just over 6 minutes remained in the 4th quarter and it is very conceivable that the Chiefs were more concerned about regaining possession than they were about preventing the Bills from scoring.
The Chiefs basically controlled that entire game but this once again brings about the fact that their major weapon on offense is of course, Patrick Mahomes.
Backup QB Chad Henne is no slouch. You don't get to play for Kansas City if you are one. His performance is mostly praised because he saved the day after Mahomes was forced to leave the game with a possible concussion but one thing that a lot of people are kind of glancing over (and they shouldn't) is the fact that he managed to throw an interception in a mere quarter and a half of play. Mahomes on the other hand, has only thrown 6 INT's the entire season and none of those were in the post-season.
So the Chiefs could find themselves in quite a bind if Mahomes is not cleared to play and unlike in the past, it is not entirely up to Mahomes or the Chiefs if this will be allowed. I am quite certain there are backroom deals when this process takes place, but all NFL players that are determined to have a concussion have to pass an independent neurological exam that confirms they have recovered from the concussion before they are cleared to play again.
At the moment we are all kept in limbo and head coach Andy Reid hasn't given any real information about Mahomes condition and was very vague about any sort of update.
"....We took him out and he’s doing great right now. A real positive as we looked at this. He passed all the deals that he needed to pass and we’ll see where it goes from here.”
There is some speculation running the rounds that the Chiefs' star quarterback was never concussed in the first place. I am not a neurologist so I have no idea how they determine this. Let's hope for the sake of the Chiefs that he does get cleared (and is in top form) because they are going to need Mahomes if they are going to make it to the Super Bowl in my opinion.