Given Patrick Mahomes’ injuries in recent weeks, fans are hoping to see Matt Moore starting for Kansas City as they host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
It’s a bit ridiculous on the surface, but there’s at least a slight reason to believe that Sunday Night Football on NBC could still feature the quarterback matchup for which everyone originally hoped: Patrick Mahomes vs. Aaron Rodgers.
When the Green Bay Packers visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday evening for their Week 8 midseason showdown, the Packers will be coming fully loaded with Rodgers coming off of, perhaps, the best performance of his career—one that featured six touchdowns (5 passing, 1 rushing). As for the Chiefs, well, nothing is quite certain just yet.
Despite the recent knee injury suffered by Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs’ coaching staff has yet to rule him out and he’s returned to practice. Backup quarterback Matt Moore took over for Mahomes for the rest of last week’s dominating win over the Denver Broncos and says he’s ready to play this week. Then again, Mahomes might be fighting to play given his competitive nature in such a big game against a contender from the NFC.
Should the Chiefs allow Mahomes to play despite the knee injury if he’s ready (or doctors say he’s ready)? What about the sore ankle that plagued him before that? Can the Chiefs afford to not play their best quarterback if he’s available?
We recently polled our readers on Twitter for a better idea of what Chiefs Kingdom thought. Then we also asked our staff writers. Check out the responses:
If you were the Chiefs head coach and Patrick Mahomes said, "I'm good," who do you start on Sunday night?
— Arrowhead Addict (@ArrowheadAddict) October 24, 2019
PRO MAHOMES
I think you have to go Mahomes, but if he shows the slightest bit of pain on Sunday, you pull and put in Moore.
If Patrick Mahomes says “I’m good” on Sunday night (and the team doctors sign off), I’m rolling with Mahomies. The guy is tough as nails and a fierce competitor but I also think he understands what is on the line if he pushes it too far.
If the team doctor says he can play, I play him. If not, simply sit him out.
PRO MOORE
I would start Matt Moore. Despite Mahomes saying he’s good, he’s not at 100%. Give him another week of rest and see where he’s at for Minnesota. There’s no need to rush him back and put him at risk for further injury—it’s one game vs. potentially the entire season or worse. Play it safe and go with Moore.
I still start Moore. I tell Mahomes I know medical science, he’s a liar, and to sit his not good butt on the bench and hold the clipboard until he’s 100%.
I’d say, “I’m good, too, Patrick. Green Bay isn’t a must win situation for us and you have not one but two legs that I’m interested in healing up. You’ll be inactive Sunday Night.”
I would start Matt Moore: in the scheme of the 2019 season, this game means very little (not an AFC West opponent, not an AFC opponent); and in the scheme of the next 15 years, this game means as close to zero as mathematically possible. There is no chance I’m risking Mahomes’ knee/career, with a bad right and left leg, for this game.
“You have a bummed ankle on top of your formerly deformed knee. Matt can play QB against the Packers, you can have next week if you are completely good to go.”