Within the Chiefs hard fought 23-16 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday, not everyone walked away completely unscathed. Moreover, Patrick Mahomes got banged up in the contest.
While it won’t go down as one of his best statistical performances ever, a win over Tom Brady in New England is no small feat. Still, Mahomes managed to go 26-of-40 for 283 yards and a touchdown pass. Also, he threw just a single interception.
However, he hurt his hand in the contest, which will now be a subject ongoing leading up to the Chiefs’ match-up with the Broncos on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. Equally important, head coach Andy Reid says that Mahomes’ hand isn’t broken.
"Patrick [Mahomes'] hand is OK. It's bruised up pretty good but there's no break."
~ #Chiefs coach Andy Reid.
— BJ Kissel (@ChiefsReporter) December 9, 2019
Without question, Reid said that the injury to Mahomes’ hand altered the game plan. This could be why his statistics didn’t jump off the page for fantasy owners, for those who expected a shootout on Sunday.
“He was having a little tougher time gripping the ball, so we went with a little bit more of a shallow cross game [and] shorter throws,” Reid said. “We ran the ball a little more, probably.”
It’s important to remember that after mounting a huge lead, the Chiefs mustered just a field goal in the second half against the Patriots. Yet, Reid says that the injury to his quarterback’s hand was not the reason for this.
“He could still be effective,” Reid said. “[The injury] is not an excuse for the second half.”
Finally, you have to hope that Mahomes is able to remain in one piece from now until the final game the Chiefs play. They are an exciting watch, capable of beating almost anyone if he’s completely healthy. In fact, they’re able to score on any play you watch. All of this makes Mahomes good for the sport, and must-see television.
