Christian McCaffreys dad Ed fired a furious defense of the final game of the season after Patrick Mahomes prepares to sit out for the Kansas City Chiefs.
On Saturday, the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Denver Broncos in an overtime thriller after a Joe Burrow masterclass to keep their hopes of making the NFL Playoffs alive. They now need to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18 and hope the Broncos lose to the Chiefs, who wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a game to spare as well as their ninth consecutive AFC West title.
Given the Chiefs have already secured home-field advantage and a first-round bye in the post-season, the back-to-back Super Bowl champions are ready to rest key players in preparation for the important games ahead. Chris Jones missed the Christmas Day win over the Steelers due to injury while running back Isiah Pacheco suffered a hard hit to the ribs last time out.
Mahomes had also been nursing an ankle injury, and Carson Wentz is in line to replace him under center. Travis Kelce is also among those that the Chiefs set to limit his involvement, given his importance to their game plan and age.
The discussion over how the game will play out given everything on the line has already started on social media. Ed McCaffrey, a three-time Super Bowl champion who featured for the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, and Broncos in his career, poured cold water on the notion of meaningless games – even for the Chiefs.
In an Instagram story, McCaffrey said: I remember playing in so-called meaningless @NFL games at the end of the season. Let me tell ya something, every game has meaning. We play for our God, family, the respect of our coaches & teammates, fans, city & the list goes on and on if you play today, make it count!
While his post wasnt necessarily aimed at Mahomes or the Chiefs, the timing of his message makes it seem like it is. But with Mahomes set to sit out, Wentz is expected to face the Broncos as Denver seeks a place in the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50.
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With their win over the 49ers back in February, Mahomes and the Chiefs became the first back-to-back Super Bowl champions since Tom Bradys 2004-2005 New England Patriots and the AFC West franchise are looking to make history by accomplishing the first-ever three-peat. Clinching the No. 1 seed will help the AFC West franchise significantly.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid routinely rests his starters in meaningless games. This means Kansas City will be fresh for the Divisional Round of the playoffs, which is expected to come on either Jan. 18 or Jan. 19 – a potential break of up to 25 days.
The Chiefs would simply have to win the Divisional Round contest to set up yet another trip to the AFC Championship. It would be the franchises seventh successive AFC title game; the Chiefs have reached the game in each year Mahomes has started, winning four.
The 15-1 Chiefs end their regular season against the Broncos at Mile High on Sunday, Jan. 5.
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