Will Kansas City Chiefs rest starters vs. Broncos? What Andy Reid said (and didn't)

Blair Kerkhoff, The Kansas City Star on Dec 30, 2024

Published in Football

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Andy Reid spoke to reporters Monday for the first time since the Chiefs clinched the AFC’s top playoff seed, and he didn’t show his hand about the lineup for the regular-season finale at Denver.

“The players have been off and they’ll be coming back in (Tuesday),” Reid said. “Then I’ll be able to talk to them about playing times.”

But based on history it’s likely the Chiefs are poised to sit several starters in the regular season finale on Sunday for the fifth time in Reid’s 12 years in Kansas City.

Additional rest is a reward for regular-season excellence, although the downtime didn’t always produce a championship, or even a playoff victory.

Here are some clues about how a game might look based on previous seasons — in 2013, 2017, 2020 and 2023 — when Reid rested starters.

Why Patrick Mahomes could be likely to sit

In both 2020 and last season, Patrick Mahomes was inactive, as was Alex Smith in 2013.

In 2017, Smith was active but didn’t play. Mahomes saw his first NFL action and led the Chiefs to a victory, becoming the first rookie to start for the Chiefs in a non-strike game since 1979.

Who else has taken snaps in these games? Chase Daniel got his first Chiefs start in 2013; Tyler Bray spelled Mahomes for a couple of series in 2017; Chad Henne started in 2020, and Blaine Gabbert got the call last season.

Most stars don’t play, but there are exceptions

Among those who sat out a finale under Reid are Jamaal Charles, Tamba Hali, Justin Houston, Tyreek Hill, Tyrann Mathieu, Travis Kelce, Justin Reid and Trent McDuffie.

In 2017, All-Pro right tackle Mitchell Schwartz had started and played every snap of his career. He played that day, and it had to have helped Mahomes’ comfort level.

Last year, defensive lineman Chris Jones needed one sack to reach a $1.25 million incentive. He got it by taking down Chargers quarterback Easton Stick, setting off a celebration on the sideline.

How have the Chiefs fared when starters sit?

Not bad. The Chiefs are 2-2 in such games.

They missed a golden opportunity in 2013 when Ryan Succop missed a 41-yard field goal with eight seconds left that would have given the Chiefs a three-point lead with four seconds remaining. The Chargers won 27-24 in overtime.

The Chiefs lost to the Colts 45-44 in the Wild Card Round.

In 2017, the Chiefs walked off the Broncos 27-24 on Harrison Butker’s 30-yard field goal after Mahomes drove them into scoring position.

In 2020, the Chargers won easily 38-21. Justin Herbert threw three touchdown passes and finished with what stands as the second best passer-rating game of his career.

Last season. the Chiefs won at the Chargers 13-12 without the offensive getting into the end zone. Mike Edwards returned a fumble 97 yards for the Chiefs’ lone touchdown.

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