Week 18 is here, and the playoff race is hotter than ever. Two spots are still up for grabs, and it’s looking like the Broncos and Buccaneers might sneak in at the buzzer. But once the dust settles and all 14 teams are set, one team already has the upper hand: Patrick Mahomes‘ Chiefs. How? Let’s find out!

Kansas City Chiefs’ announcer Mitch Holthus recently joined The Drive podcast with Carrington Harrison. During this December 2024 episode, Holthus warned the rest of the 13 teams in the playoffs that Patrick Mahomes’s Red Army is coming with a big advantage.

He said, “This team, in theory, is going to have three and a half weeks in between games. You just don’t really have that scenario really come up in the NFL….. as early as they do, they’ll stay sharp, trust me, they’ll stay sharp. This quarterback, this coach, they’ll stay sharp. They have had so much on their play.” The Chiefs have clinched early, giving them potentially three weeks of rest before the playoffs. And it is a rare scenario in the NFL.

While some might worry about “rest vs. rust,” Holthus is confident in this team. He highlighted how Patrick Mahomes, Coach Andy Reid, and the rest of the squad have faced immense challenges over the years. From playing intense, high-stakes games to enduring grueling schedules like winning three games in 11 days – they’ve proven their resilience.

Hence, the announcer believes this rest isn’t a hindrance but a vital reset, allowing the team to recharge physically, emotionally, and mentally. Holthus even sees this as a golden opportunity to achieve something extraordinary, not just in the NFL but in American sports history, and that is the 3-peat.

So, now the task ahead of Patrick Mahomes’s Chiefs is to win three games in 45 days. Mitch Holthus is certain that this team, armed with its experience and drive, is ready to make history. For this, he even reassured fans that the Chiefs know what’s at stake and are preparing for this moment with everything they’ve got. But the question is, will they? Especially amidst the recent alarming situation?

Patrick Mahomes’s protector is injured?

The Kansas City Chiefs are in a rare and exciting position. With the No. 1 seed in the AFC secured early, the starters now have time to rest and recharge. This break is a golden opportunity, not just for the team but for the injured players like Patrick Mahomes’s key protector, D.J. Humphries.

Humphries has been battling a hamstring injury, but when reporters asked Coach Andy Reid, he remained optimistic. Talking about him, the HC said, “You know what, he’s doing good. I can’t make you any promises – I want to get him out to practice and kind of see where we’re at. But he is doing good in his rehab part. That’s different than being on the field. I’d like to just see how he does there.”

Well, Reid here admitted that he needs to see Patrick Mahomes’s protector in practice to truly assess his readiness. So, it means, it’s a wait-and-watch situation. Nevertheless, in the meantime, the Chiefs have made adjustments. As per the reports, Joe Thuney shifted to left tackle, with Mike Caliendo stepping into the starting lineup.

Until then, a big question lies ahead for the Chiefs: will Humphries return to his spot, or will this new lineup stick? As the playoffs approach, every decision feels critical, especially when Patrick Mahomes and the team are aiming for a 3-peat.