Today, we got some incredibly positive updates for the Chiefs, which, honestly, could not be a better situation when you consider everything. Not only are two key players expected to return soon, but two others who were injured during Sunday’s game are showing a lot less damage than originally feared. One of them is already practicing fully today! So let’s dive into all these exciting updates, but first…how about those Chiefs?

Before we break down all the details, I want to settle something once and for all: which quarterback has been the best in the business when the stakes are the highest this season? My favorite way to answer that question is by looking at game-winning drives. Can a quarterback perform when the game is on the line?

Let’s take a look at the Chiefs’ close wins this season, as it has been full of nail-biting, down-to-the-wire victories. Of their 12 wins, 10 have been one-score games, and eight of those ended in dramatic fashion.

In Week 1, the Ravens lost when their tight end Isaiah Le’s toe stepped out of bounds in the back of the end zone as time expired.
In Week 2, a legitimate DPI penalty set up a 51-yard game-winning field goal against the Bengals.
Week 3 saw the Falcons unable to convert a game-winning drive, falling short on 3rd and 1 and 4th and 1 at the 13-yard line.
Week 8 had Kareem Hunt with a walk-off touchdown in overtime against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Week 9 might have been the craziest, when Leo Chanel blocked the Broncos’ game-winning field goal attempt to seal the win.
In Week 11, Mahomes had an epic run up the sideline in under a minute to set up the game-winning field goal.
Week 12 was another “lucky” win after the Raiders imploded with a fumble in field goal range, and the Chiefs recovered.
And then Week 13 was another classic game-winning drive by Mahomes to set up a 31-yard chip shot field goal.

In fact, the Chiefs are 10-0 in one-score games this season, with Mahomes leading the charge in seven of those victories, delivering clutch game-winning drives every time. Meanwhile, Joe Burrow and the Bengals are just 2-7 in one-score games, and Burrow has only one game-winning drive. This clearly shows that, even though other quarterbacks might be posting better stats, Mahomes has the ability to come through when it matters most.

Now, if we look at the overall career of these quarterbacks, Mahomes leads the pack with 29 total game-winning drives (23 in the regular season and six in the playoffs). Josh Allen has 21, Lamar Jackson has 10, and Joe Burrow has 8 regular season game-winning drives, with only 2 in the playoffs. So, when it comes to clutch performances, Mahomes is truly unmatched.

This brings us to the recent news surrounding the Chiefs. We have two key players expected to return soon, which is a huge boost for the team. One of them is Harrison Butker, the Chiefs’ kicker. After undergoing minor knee surgery on his meniscus, Butker’s 21-day window to return from IR opened today. He’s been practicing, and it’s possible we’ll see him back as early as Sunday’s game. Having Butker back will provide a major boost to the team, as he’s Mr. Automatic when it comes to field goals.

Another exciting update is the possible return of Hollywood Brown. He’s been on IR and is expected to be cleared by his surgeon around Week 15. If all goes as planned, his return could be as early as Week 16 against the Texans or Week 17 against the Steelers. This would give the Chiefs another weapon in their offense, especially as he’s known for beating man coverage. Having him back will help alleviate some of the pressure on Mahomes and could even open up opportunities for other wide receivers like Xavier Worthy, who has been showing steady improvement over the last few games.

Additionally, we have a great update regarding DJ Humphries, who recently tweaked his hamstring. Thankfully, the injury doesn’t appear to be as serious as initially feared. While it’s unclear if he’ll play on Sunday, he was seen doing stretches at practice, which is a positive sign. If he’s unable to play, W Morris will most likely fill in at left tackle, but that’s a less-than-ideal scenario considering that Myles Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, will be coming after Mahomes.

Lastly, some good news for McCole Hardman, who shared that his knee surgery was a success. He’s expected to miss the next three games, but it’s possible he could return for the playoffs. In the meantime, Nico Rigio will step in as the returner and has shown some solid promise in his debut last week.

In summary, the Chiefs’ situation is looking great right now. With key players like Butker and Hollywood Brown returning soon, and with DJ Humphries’ injury not as severe as feared, the team is in an excellent position for the playoff stretch. It’s the best-case scenario for the Chiefs, and as we head into Sunday’s matchup against the Browns, things are definitely trending up. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, and until next time, let’s go Chiefs!