To play or not to play? That’s the question the Chiefs face with a banged up Patrick Mahomes

No team has ever won three Super Bowls in a row, a fact that has been beaten into the consciousness of the Kansas City Chiefs ever since they captured a second consecutive title in February.

The goal this season was simple: win again (of course) but also create history.

Monday, the diagnosis for Patrick Mahomes arrived, a “mild” high ankle sprain that makes the superstar quarterback’s playing availability a week-to-week proposition. It doesn’t end any chance of the Chiefs winning another Lombardi, of course, but it is the latest reminder of why the three-peat has proved impossible.

Injuries. Luck. Timing. Age. Complacency. Opponents.

Just having the best team or the best player isn’t always enough in a hyper-competitive league built to level as many ships as possible.

This is a temporary setback for Mahomes, but it comes at a challenging time of the season. Kansas City hosts Houston on Saturday — already a short week — and then travels to Pittsburgh for a Christmas game just four days later.

Three games in 11 days on a bum ankle. It’s enough to remind everyone about unexpected hurdles teams go through during a 17-game season, and why Kansas City has entered full debate mode of what to do with its QB.

The Chiefs hold a two-game lead (but not the tiebreaker) in a battle with the Bills for the AFC’s top overall seed, which provides a first-round bye in the playoffs. But KC’s remaining schedule — Texans, Steelers, Broncos — is a gauntlet compared to Buffalo’s — Patriots, Jets, Patriots.

Rest and recovery for Mahomes or do everything to keep playing?

After suffering an ankle injury, Patrick Mahomes gave way to Carson Wentz in Sunday’s win over the Cleveland Browns. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

“You have to [try],” Mahomes said on Tuesday. “That’s the reason you play this game, to push to play. I’m not going to put our team in a bad position. It’s about seeing where I’m at. I’m a competitor. I want to go out there and play.”

“Let’s…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-12-17 21:29:00

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