Let’s Argue: “Patrick Mahomes should not play Thursday night”

Welcome to this week’s edition of Let’s Argue!

Inspired by a video series created by music reviewer Anthony Fantano, Robert Rimpson’s weekly series takes a look at hot takes, unpopular opinions, wacky predictions and more from Kansas City Chiefs fans.

“Patrick Mahomes should not play at all on Thursday night”

This wouldn’t be the dumbest decision in the world for the Chiefs to make. After all, making sure your best player is as healthy as possible should be the number one priority, right? And so far, playing on the ankle hasn’t made it any better.

But ultimately I’m going to have to disagree with this take. Even if we disregard that Mahomes would fight tooth-and-nail to play if he thinks he’s healthy enough — and that in the NFL, no player is ever 100% healthy — every game is too important to rest guys if they are able (and willing) to perform.

Even on a bad ankle, Mahomes has shown the ability to make the plays that separate him from everyone else in the league. Mahomes’ ankle does take away a bit of his mobility — but that just means the Chiefs’ offensive line has to get better and protect him while he’s in the pocket.

Mahomes will have 10 days rest after the Denver Broncos game to get as healthy as possible. But not playing your best player — especially when the team could desperately use a win — just isn’t an option.

“Fire Andy Reid!”

It’s about that time of year again. Every year it seems like a few people jump on the Fire Andy Reid train — and while some of his play calls lately have been a concern (more on that later), there are way too many reasons not to fire Reid right now:

1. He is a better head coach than any potential hire that would be available in the middle of the season
2. Firing a head coach while he’s 4-2 would be a questionable decision at best.
3. Despite the flaws, in my opinion, Reid has accomplished a lot in Kansas City and has earned the benefit of the doubt.
4. Reid is the best quarterback coach in the league. The longer Mahomes stays under his wing, the better.
5. With his enormous coaching tree, chances are his replacement would be another Andy Reid disciple.

This list could go on for a very long time. You get the point.

“The Chiefs will win another football game”

Let’s take a moment to acknowledge the bravery it took for Kansas City Star columnist Sam Mellinger to say something so controversial — and to say it in public for everyone to see!

As far-fetched as it may seem, I agree with this very hot (and not at all sarcastic) take.

“The Chiefs don’t run the ball enough”

The Chiefs do rely a lot on Mahomes’ arm talent. But can you blame them?

You have the best player in football, surrounded by some of the best weapons in football, and you’re going to hand it off to some guy who wasn’t wanted by his old team — to run behind a banged-up offensive line?

Also consider the fact that on Sunday, the Chiefs averaged more yards per play than the Houston Texans — even though the Texans had 30 more rushing attempts and averaged more than five yards per attempt.

Don’t get me wrong. I think there is a time and place to run the football — especially early in games or while you have a sizable lead. But while you’re behind against a team your defense is having a hard time stopping — or on second-and-long on possibly the most important drive of the game — are probably not the best places to do it.

This is where Reid’s play-calling comes back into play.

The Chiefs are in this weird Twilight Zone. They know that running is less effective, so they pass a lot — but they haven’t completely given up on the run, so they decide to do it in really weird situations. The Chiefs aren’t running the ball well right now — which may have to do with the injuries to the offensive line — but if that’s the case, running the ball more often won’t help that situation. Furthermore, it would likely result in even more minimal gains.

“These two losses will make this season more fun”

I personally think going undefeated would have been more fun — but I like the attitude.

I’m assuming His Dirkness means the two losses will make the season less predictable — that fans will appreciate wins more than they would if the Chiefs were torching teams on a regular basis — making the season more of a thrilling roller-coaster than a 17-week wait until the playoffs. I kind of agree.

“The Chiefs should trade Travis Kelce”

I feel the same about this one as I did about the Chiefs-don’t-need-Tyreek Hill take from a couple of weeks ago.

Now that Hill is back, the Chiefs may not need Kelce — but you don’t get rid of that kind of talent unless it is absolutely necessary. Tight ends may not make or break teams, but in my opinion, taking football’s best tight end away from a quarterback who is already struggling with a bad offensive line and an ankle injury wouldn’t be the best idea.