Chiefs vs. Broncos: Patrick Mahomes will make his first NFL start on Sunday
By Matt Conner
The Kansas City Chiefs have made it official: Patrick Mahomes will make his first NFL start on Sunday against the Denver Broncos.
Chiefs Kingdom is already giddy with excitement and it’s only Wednesday. That’s because Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid made it official that Patrick Mahomes, the team’s first round pick and rookie quarterback sensation, will be making his first ever pro start on Sunday in Week 17 at Mile High Stadium.
This is the perfect scenario both for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in general. Mahomes will be able to get at least 1/16th of a season under his belt and show the coaching staff and front office what he can do with a week of game planning and a chance to lead several offensive series in a row. He’s been sitting under the leadership of Reid, Nagy, Brad Childress and, of course, Alex Smith for the last several months and now he’ll have a meaningful showcase for his talents.
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On the flip side, it’s also ideal for the fan base, a way to keep them even more energized than they already were for a team that’s punched a ticket to the postseason. The Chiefs are going to have a home playoff game and are looking good at the right time of the year, so fans should already be jazzed about the state of the team. But add in the team’s best quarterback prospect of all time and you get a fever pitch.
Mahomes was taken at No. 10 overall after the Chiefs traded up with the Buffalo Bills, but has been forced to sit behind Smith, who has enjoyed a career year in Kansas City with over 4,000 passing yards and another Pro Bowl nod. Mahomes is known as a gunslinger and it’s likely that Matt Nagy, the team’s offensive coordinator and playcaller, will give him a chance to show off his arm against a challenging secondary employed by the Broncos—one that includes Aqib Talib and Chris Harris.