The Chiefs visit the Broncos on Sunday for the final game of the season — at least for the Broncos. For the playoff-bound Chiefs, back-to-back winners of the AFC West, head coach Andy Reid‘s approach will reflect the fact that they have more to play for than just Sunday’s rivalry.
Locked into the AFC’s fourth playoff seed and hosting their first-round matchup next week means that the Chiefs, who will sit many of their starters, are rightly focused on that game more than Sunday’s tilt with the Broncos.
In an interview with David Hurlbut of Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7, Pete Sweeney of SB Nation’s Arrowhead Pride says that Reid has always been consistent in his approach when it comes to games where the results don’t matter.
“I think everyone knows by now that this is Andy Reid’s M.O. — this has been something he’s done in the past,” Sweeney explained. “There was game even the Chargers had to win to make the playoffs a few years ago, and he ended up starting [quarterback Chase Daniel] because it really didn’t matter to him, so Andy Reid’s not going to change his ways. Alex Smith knew that if they clinched [the AFC West] a week in advance, that he would get this week off.”
Sweeney detailed why Reid believes that preventing injury and stealing a bit of rest for his stars is more valuable to him than the notion of retaining momentum coming into the playoffs. “I think it’s similar to a bye week (which the Chiefs don’t have as the fourth seed)… it gives your top guys a week to get off their feet. I don’t think it’s a bad thing… I think of it like running a marathon on your legs; you’re going to be tired. If you take two weeks off after that, you’ll feel a little bit more fresh.”
“I think (the week off) can help [Smith] mentally — and mentally, Alex Smith is one of the best quarterbacks in the league.”
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