KANSAS CITY, Missouri – The Kansas City Chiefs had two great moves from their quarterback towards the end of the game to preserve Sunday’s 22-17 playoff victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, but that player was not Patrick Mahomes.
With Mahomes in the locker room after suffering a concussion and being eliminated from the game, Chad Henne made two great moves to save the Chiefs. In the Chiefs’ last onslaught, he climbed 13 yards, ending with a dive to try to reach the first descent marker, to prepare for a quarter and a throw.
He completed a five-yard pass to Tyreek Hill to allow the Chiefs to continue driving and run out of time.
“When you’re around him, you just know,” said Reid of why he trusted Henne, who was not a regular starter since 2014, when he was with the Jacksonville Jaguars. “Everyone has full confidence in him.
“I think we will all remember the race, the diving and the pitch. ” Mahomes hailed his support, tweeting”#HenneThingIsPossible” after the game.
Henne replaced Mahomes in the third quarter. Mahomes was hit hard by Browns linebacker Mack Wilson in his attempt to race in the third quarter and looked unsteady on rising. He was taken to the injury booth on the side for a quick check before going to the locker room.
“He’s doing great, ” said Reid after the game.” We will see how he is doing tomorrow, but now he is feeling very well. ”
Mahomes’ status for the AFC Championship game next Sunday against Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium is unclear. The Chiefs beat the Bills 26-17 in Week 6 in Buffalo with Mahomes as a defender.
After the game, Wilson tweeted that he hoped Mahomes could return to the AFC title game, to which Mahomes replied: “Okay, brother!”
All the best, brother! 💪🏽 https://t.co/ORwLG6eFTV
– Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) January 17, 2021
If Henne has to play instead, the two moves he made in the Chiefs’ final move will help give teammates some confidence that they can beat the Bills and advance to the Super Bowl LV.
“This is all from the heart,” defender Tyrann Mathieu said of Henne in the final attack. “These are the moments that elevate the teams.”