Andy Reid and the NFL's modern dynasty didn't achieve three Super Bowls in five years by doing things like the other 31 teams.
However at what point do the risks of pushing all the chips to the center of the table every week come back to bite?
At 13-1 and coasting into the playoffs ready to take a shot at becoming the first team in the Super Bowl era to win three straight championships (the 1965-67 Packers did it, but the Super Bowl era officially began in 1966), the Chiefs are electing to start Patrick Mahomes against the Houston Texans on Saturday less than one week after enduring a significant ankle injury.
Mahomes limped off the field in visible pain following a play where his legs were wrapped up while an oncoming defender tackled him head on and his body bent back awkwardly.
After learning that his injury was a mild high ankle sprain and that he would receive a week-to-week designation, the speculation was that it would be doubtful Mahomes would play on short rest.
But Mahomes revealed later in the week that he plans to play on short rest and that the treatment to his ankle has gone accordingly.
"It's a short amount of time, I thought we did a good job yesterday and after the game as well," Mahomes stated. "If I feel like I can play and go out there and win a football game, I will."
#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes says his ankle has done good with the treatment: "It's a short amount of time, I thought we did a good job yesterday and after the game as well."
He says he'll push it in practice to see if he can play: "If I feel like I can play and go out there and...
The three-time Super Bowl MVP hasn't missed a start to injury since 2019 when he missed two games because of a dislocated patella.
Since then, Mahomes — as any football player would — has persevered through a couple of bumps and bruises during game action along with a concussion and a high ankle sprain, an injury he played through during the 2022-23 Super Bowl run.
However, the Chiefs can afford to rest him at this moment in time. Kansas City clinched a playoff berth on Nov. 29 when they defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 19-17, which makes the insistence to rush the bread and butter of the franchise — and the sport for that matter — back onto the field a head-scratcher.
The Buffalo Bills are two games in the Chiefs' rear, so theoretically, the No. 1 seed is not secured yet and the Texans are competitive. Buffalo's remaining games are two games against the down-and-out likes of the New England Patriots along with the equally deflated New York Jets.
The Chiefs follow their Houston matchup against two more above .500 teams in the 10-4 Pittsburgh Steelers and the 9-6 Denver Broncos.
So the argument to be made in Mahomes' quick turnaround return this week is that the Chiefs assume the Bills will finish 14-3 and won't take any of their three remaining ball games for granted in their efforts to secure the No. 1 spot.
Either way, Kansas City has proven it is a playoff-thriving team no matter what the odds or circumstances are, so is risking the health of a player who is too precious and pivotal to a team's (historic) success the right call for a regular season game that could end up meaning nothing in the long run?
The Chiefs opt to fly too close to the sun while a not sexy, but capable backup in Carson Wentz looks on.
For more on the Chiefs, head to Newsweek Sports.
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