Kansas City fans rejoice! Following a grueling week of limited capacity practices, Super Bowl LIV MVP Patrick Mahomes has been medically cleared to play the AFC Championship vs Buffalo. He will be the first QB in NFL history to start 3 conference championships within 4 years of joining the league.
"You have to take it day by day," Mahomes said about recovering from the concussion that took him out of last week's Divisional game, "That's the best thing. You can only control what you can control. For me, that was coming in every day with a positive attitude, try to make myself better, try to prepare myself as if I was going to play. Luckily enough, I haven't had any symptoms and I'm able to play.''
Chiefs players Sammy Watkins (WR), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB), and Bashaud Breeland (CB) have been marked for LP (limited participation) with respective calf, hip/ankle, and concussion/shoulder injuries. The three of them are still listed as questionable. On the other side of the field, some of Buffalo's key offensive players - including WR Stefon Diggs (oblique) and WR Cole Beasley (knee) - have been practicing at limited capacity this week . WR Gabriel Davis (ankle) has not been medically cleared for practice at all.
How will injuries impact Sunday's game?
With Mahomes back in the game, it's easy to have confidence in the Chiefs because of weapons like Tyreek Hill (WR) and Le'Veon Bell (RB). Their defense also deserves a nod because they played their hearts out against Cleveland's powerful offense last week. I've been thinking a lot about that interception Chad Henne threw at 8 minutes remaining, and how the defense still managed to keep Cleveland from converting before possession turned back over to KC. That secured their win just as much as Henne's game-ending completed pass on fourth down.
The Bills still have QB Josh Allen and RB Devin Singletary, and they may even have Diggs, Beasley, and Davis back by Sunday. Offensively (In my HUMBLE opinion), with Mahomes' record vs Allen's being just one TD and 4 interceptions apart, it could be anyone's game. If Buffalo's defense can hold off the Chiefs' superpower (aka Travis Kelce), they have a shot at taking down the defending Super Bowl champions.