NFL PLAYER NEWS

Start one for Chiefs rookie QB Mahomes

The Sports Xchange

December 27, 2017 at 9:46 pm.

Aug 31, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) drops back to pass in the first half against the Tennessee Titans at Arrowhead Stadium. Photo Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 31, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) drops back to pass in the first half against the Tennessee Titans at Arrowhead Stadium. Photo Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Rookie quarterback Patrick Mahomes found himself in the Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback room watching film with starter Alex Smith and fellow backup Tyler Bray when head coach Andy Reid dropped by to deliver the news that Mahomes will make his regular-season debut as the team’s starting quarterback Sunday against the Denver Broncos.

“It was exciting news, but now it’s going to work and getting the film done and all the practicing,” Mahomes said.

Reid’s Chiefs have nothing left to play for in the regular season. The club clinched the AFC West title this past weekend and cannot move from the No. 4 seed in the AFC for the playoffs. That means the coach can afford to evaluate young players such as Mahomes against a division rival.

“It’s not going to hurt him for sure and he will learn from it,” Reid said. “Every snap that he gets is a valuable snap for him whenever he has that chance of getting in there. It’s invaluable.”

Starting Mahomes means resting Smith, and Reid believes that’s a positive as well.

“Fortunately, we have a quarterback in Alex that understands it and is having a phenomenal year,” Reid said. “It’s a MVP-caliber year. He understands the situation and this won’t detour anything off of what he’s doing the remainder of the season.”

Smith said he believes Mahomes holds an innate play-making ability that should help him in his first NFL start.

“I’ve said this before, as a young guy he just has a great ability to just play the game and not get locked into scheme and fundamentals and things like that,” Smith said. “Those things are all important, don’t get me wrong, but I think he has a great ability to kind of just go play, which is really important as well.”

Reid said he doesn’t want to burden Mahomes with any expectations for this week’s game.

“Just think the fact that he goes in and plays and has that experience,” Reid said. “I’m not going to set expectations or any of that. That’s not where I’m at. I just want him to go play, learn the game plan, play it and lead the team, the offense and most of all have an opportunity.”

For his part, however, Mahomes simply wants to win his first NFL start.

“The biggest thing for me is just to expect to go out there and win any way possible, just go out there,” Mahomes said. “If that’s 300 yards, if that’s 100 yards, whatever it is, whatever it takes to get a win is the biggest thing.”

Broncos head coach Vance Joseph said his defense plans to prepare for Kansas City’s offensive system regardless of the quarterback running it. But he acknowledges that Mahomes brings a different approach to the position than Smith does.

“The first thing you see is a huge arm,” Joseph said. “He can make every throw. He’s got some Brett Favre in him when he can move, he’s moving right and throwing the ball over his left shoulder with accuracy.”

Mahomes also does not expect Reid or offensive coordinator Matt Nagy to change the team’s offensive identity with him in the game.

“For me it’s about going out there and producing on whatever plays coach Reid and coach Nags and all them call,” Mahomes said. “It won’t necessarily get tailored more for me. I’m sure they’ll try to play to my strengths a little bit, but the offense is a great offense just to be for anybody.”

Mahomes said he prepares each week as if he plans to start the game. His duties change a bit this week, yet he aims to stay true to his regular approach.

“I get a few more practice reps, that’s a big thing,” Mahomes said. “But at the same time, I’ve been trying to do as much as I can every single week, so I’m going to try to stick to that routine.”

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