Bills coach Sean McDermott gives telling quote on Patrick Mahomes’ status

Patrick Mahomes is progressing nicely throughout the week, and the Bills expect the obvious.

Sean McDermott is a coach of the year finalist for a reason. The Bills skipper is among the most capable football minds out there, and McDermott spoke to the media on Friday fully aware that Mahomes is trending towards playing. While the Chiefs superstar was placed in concussion protocol last Sunday, forcing him to miss the fourth quarter of their win over the Cleveland Browns in the Divisional Round, it would appear Mahomes has avoided a disastrous two-week absence from play.

“At the beginning of the week we weren’t quite sure, but it’s probably trending in that direction. That’s what we’re anticipating,” McDermott said, per Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.

Mahomes has been a limited participant in practice towards the end of the week

Practice footage and the word of Andy Reid would suggest the team is expecting him to play barring any last-second setback. Were he not to play, Chad Henne would get the start in his place. Henne proved capable in leading the Chiefs to a late win over the Browns, but he’d be facing a much more capable team in the Bills.

Even with Mahomes in tow, the Chiefs face a challenge in Josh Allen and the Bills. Buffalo’s offense has taken a big step forward in 2020 thanks to the acquisition of wide receiver Stefon Diggs last offseason from the Minnesota Vikings. While Kansas City can force turnovers when they need them, Allen hasn’t been as prone to the monumental mistake as in his first few years in the league.

With Mahomes likely to play, NFL fans are getting the AFC Championship they were promised at the beginning of the postseason.