The Kansas City Chiefs are sitting pretty after securing the one seed and the lone playoff bye in the AFC. Before the team goes radio silent in its first week of prep for the Divisional Round, leaders for the 14-3 unit spoke with the media to address their preparations for the playoffs.
Head coach Andy Reid, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and safety Justin Reid all spoke to the media on Monday. The team’s HC led the proceedings off in the Zoom press conference by addressing injury news.
Defensive end Frank Clark exited Saturday’s contest with the Las Vegas Raiders early with a groin injury. Fortunately, the coach said an MRI revealed only a minor strain. He hinted that the bye week should provide enough time for the pass rusher to be available by the team’s first playoff game.
Otherwise, the team is relatively healthy and anticipates getting wide receiver Mecole Hardman back for the first time since the season’s midway point.
Patrick Mahomes was next up with reporters. Although the Chiefs don’t yet know who they’ll face in the divisional round of the playoffs, the QB says he plans to spend the week watching game film of every potential opponent.
Kansas City has four potential opponents in the second round of the postseason.
.The Jacksonville Jaguars
.The Los Angeles Chargers
.The Miami Dolphins
.The Baltimore Ravens
Current odds have the Trevor Lawrence and Doug Pederson-led Jags coming to Arrowhead. A benefit of having the top playoff spot is that it ensures Kansas City cannot face the Buffalo Bills or Cincinnati Bengals any time prior to the AFC Championship Game.
Finally, safety and defensive leader Justin Reid spoke with reporters.
The safety said that he feels the team is coming together at the right time. He felt that both the offense, defense and special team units were all able to end the regular season on a high note.
The young defender felt that the defense dialed up its intensity in the final stretch of the season. Specifically, he called attention to the team’s loss to the Bengals as a turning point. Reid says the defense as a whole didn’t want to lose again following one of its less inspiring performances of the season.
Monday’s conferences mark what is likely the last time the public will hear from the team ahead of Super Wild Card Weekend.
