The Kansas City Chiefs have taken the top spot in the AFC. Accordingly, the franchise is likely to rest its stars at the end of the regular season. Is there a risk of competitive distortion?

The Kansas City Chiefs secured first place in the AFC with a win in the Christmas Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, even before the final game day of the regular season.

Accordingly, the team can start preparing and recovering for the playoffs early. As reported by “CBS”, head coach Andy Reid will rest key players in week 18, the final game of the regular season against the Denver Broncos.

Including the bye in the first round, some key players would then have almost 24 days off to recover before the showdown in the Divisional Round. In the meantime, “intensive training sessions for the starters” are to take place to keep them fit.

Accordingly, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and defensive tackle Chris Jones are not expected to play. The break should be especially beneficial for Mahomes, who has been struggling with an ankle injury recently. Star defensive lineman Jones also missed the game in Week 17 with a calf injury.

For Coach Reid, this behavior is not unusual. When his teams have made the playoffs, he has routinely rested his key players the following week, especially the quarterbacks. He did this with Alex Smith in 2013 and 2017 and with Mahomes in 2020 and 2023.

Chiefs with a competitive disadvantage in the playoff race?

If the Chiefs do not start their first team in the upcoming game, it would have a major impact on their playoff race in the AFC.

Division rivals Denver are in desperate need of a win after their overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals if they are to reach the postseason themselves.