Andy Reid’s major decision deals AFC rival hammer blow as Patrick Mahomes replacement serves up warning.

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Andy Reid has made a relatively easy decision ahead of the Week 18 regular season finale.

With the No. 1 seed in the AFC already locked up, the 15-1 Chiefs are making the call to bench a number of key players.

including quarterback Patrick Mahomes, for the game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday night.

That means backup quarterback Carson Wentz will be starting under center for the first time this season.

The Super Bowl LII winner signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs earlier this season .

and has only appeared in two games as a backup.

but that isn’t going to stop him going out there and letting loose in a free-hit of a contest.

“I’m going to prepare to go out there and win .

and then have a good performance with this offense,” said Wentz.

“I got one shot last year and so for me it’s just not taking these chances for granted and having fun with it [and] cutting it loose.”

“I think it would be tremendous just getting reps,” he went on.

“Obviously preseason is helpful, but that was even limited and seems like another lifetime ago already.

This will definitely be helpful if needed in whatever capacity down the stretch there in the playoffs.

But quite frankly, I’m just excited to get out there and play ball.”

“I’m confident in myself.

I’m confident in my abilities and what I’ve done in the past is in the past — good, bad, indifferent.

I’m so confident I can play and play at a high level.

and so I’m looking forward to hopefully doing that this weekend .

and having fun while I’m at it.”

Reid’s decision to bench a number of his starters has all sorts of playoff implications, rest being one of them.

KC clinched home-field advantage in the playoffs and a first-round bye with a 29-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.

By the time the Broncos game rolls around, the Chiefs will have had 10 days rest.

And with a first-round bye secured, that means whoever gets rested against Denver won’t face anybody until at least January 18 in the divisional round, meaning a full 24 days between games.

Some believe that’s too long of a layoff, but not Reid, who made his feelings clear after a long and arduous regular season.

“I’ve been through that before, so I’m not too worried about all that,” Reid said.

“It gives the other guys an opportunity here to grow and you can use everybody.

“The primary thing is to make sure that we stay sharp in all areas through this game and for the upcoming weeks .

We want to stay sharp mentally and physically.

and then that’s our responsibility to do that and how we manage the time.

I make sure I do that practice-wise and the guys go out, players and coaches, and work on that.”

Sunday’s clash against Denver may be a dead rubber for the three-peat chasing Chiefs.

but the result does represent major playoff consequences for other teams, specifically the Broncos, Bengals, and Dolphins.

The AFC has three teams currently battling over the final wild card spot, with the Broncos (9-7) attempting to fend off the Dolphins (8-8) and the Bengals (8-8).

For Denver, the task is simple: beat Wentz and the Mahomes-less Chiefs, and the AFC’s seventh playoff spot is theirs.

But there’s also the Bengals’ fate to bear in mind.

as pointed out by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, who notes.

“Joe Burrow and the Bengals are the team that’s been the biggest thorn in the Chiefs’ side over the last half-decade.

Kansas City has the opportunity now, with Denver next and the 1 seed locked up, to keep Burrow and Cincy out of the playoffs.”

The Bengals are one of the rare teams to get the better of the Chiefs in the playoffs, back in the 2022 AFC Championship game when they got it done in overtime, 27-24.

The Chiefs got their revenge the following season to make it 1-1 in the postseason.

but now, in a cruel twist of fate, they can knock the Bengals out of the postseason before the bracket is even set.

All they have to do is lose the regular-season finale in Denver to ensure the Broncos reach the postseason and the Bengals stay out of it.

And with the Chiefs deliberately weakening themselves to rest up ahead of the playoffs, that looks all but guaranteed.

Cincinnati would have been hoping — praying — the Chiefs went full strength against the Broncos in Week 18 in order to get the win.

The Bengals currently have a four percent chance of making the playoffs.

Those odds go up to seven percent with a win over Pittsburgh in Week 18.

If the Bengals win and the Jets beat the Dolphins, their chances go up to 17 percent.

If the Bengals win and the Chiefs beat the Broncos, their chances go up to 43 percent.

However, any hopes the Bengals had of the Chiefs beating the Broncos looks to have been extinguished with the news most, if not all, of Kansas City’s best players will be rested.

The likes of Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins will now be hoping Wentz can roll back the clock.

and have one of his best games in years so Cincy can reach the postseason for the third time in four years.

Over to you, Carson.