The Chiefs won the battle but may have lost the war.
In the fourth and final quarter of the Kansas City Chiefs Week 15 dominant 21-7 win against the Cleveland Browns (3-11), quarterback Patrick Mahomes stayed on the field for a 4th-and-3 play at Cleveland’s 39-yard line instead of coach Andy Reid choosing to punt the ball away or go for a 57-yard field goal.
Mahomes dropped back to throw the ball on the fourth down play and was twisted like a pretzel by a pair of defenders after he threw an incomplete pass. He was helped up by his teammates and was visibly shaken up and in pain as he limped gingerly toward the sideline.
The Chiefs’ training staff was seen taping both of Mahomes’s ankles on the sideline while backup quarterback Carson Wentz, who was once the No. 2 pick in the 2016 draft, warmed up. Wentz entered the game on the ensuing offensive drive for the defending champs, and Mahomes was listed as questionable to return with an ankle injury, according to the CBS broadcast, but never returned to the game.
Up by two touchdowns with roughly eight minutes remaining in the game, fans went on their social media platforms to vent about Mahomes getting injured.
“#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes limping off the field after getting crumpled on a fourth down throw. Malpractice for the end of this game to be as mismanaged as it has been on offense,” Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports wrote.
“Patrick Mahomes is heavily limping on his way off the field. I’m not sure why that, of all times, is when you go for a fourth down,” Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star wrote.
“Mahomes getting hurt right when the Chiefs have 3 games in 10 days isn’t great! Really need the Lions to beat the Bills so 15 can get some time off if needed,” Adam Best of Arrowhead Addict wrote.
The back-to-back Super Bowl champions improved to 13-1 with the win over Cleveland.
Despite punting the ball four times in the first half, Kansas City managed to lead 14-0 at halftime thanks to two Mahomes touchdown passes and stifling defensive play. The Chiefs took a commanding 21-0 lead when rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy caught a Mahomes backward pass and took it 21 yards to the house for the score early in the third quarter.
Kansas City followed up their third touchdown of the game with a total of five punts and one turnover on downs. Luckily, the Chiefs’ vaunted defense continued to take the ball away and finished the day with six (four interceptions, two fumble recoveries).
Mahomes was not a part of the last two offensive drives but completed 50% of his passes,19-of-38 on the day for 159 yards and two touchdowns. His leading receiver was Worthy, who hauled in six receptions on 11 targets for 46 yards.
After the game, Mahomes said X-rays were negative. He said he would have pushed harder to stay in if the Browns had gotten to within one score. Mahomes is considered week-to-week NFL Media reported Sunday. It looks like the avoided disaster.
“It’s not broken, it’s sore,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters.
The Chiefs’ leading rusher was veteran Kareem Hunt, who tied Isiah Pacheco with a team-high 13 rushing attempts and led the backfield with 45 yards. Even though it was not the most efficient day on the offensive side of the ball, they did the most important thing, got the job done.
