Should we have played Henne the entire 2nd half?

[stanleychief]

I had a few beers by the time the Mahomes injury happened, and for some reason, I thought he injured his knee. I was bewildered when he went limping around, and then ended up back in the huddle. Once it sunk in that it was his ankle, I understood that it wasn't as bad.

We desperately need Mahomes for the AFCCG. I had mixed feelings about him playing the rest of the game. The Jags were coming after us pretty hard and I was worried about Mahomes getting hurt worse. I am glad that taping his ankle let him finish out the game. If his warrior mentality wasn't evident to the rest of the world, it certainly is now. Everything worked out great, so playing him was the right decision.

However...Henne led an impressive drive when Mahomes went out. I'm not set on the fact that Henne also couldn't have gone on to win that game. The Jags prepped for playing Mahomes, not Henne, and I think that first drive caught them off guard a bit. We were also running the ball very well with Pacheco. If EB and Reid protected Henne with smart play calling, who knows? It appeared that the rest of the team realized they needed to level up their game when Patrick was out.

[Bl00dyBizkitz]

If it's the regular season, you'd probably consider it.

But guys, it's the playoffs. Lose and go home. Season over.

Patrick would not have gone back out there if the trainers thought his injury was severe enough that playing on it more would lead to permanent damage. In the playoffs, Mahomes with a bad ankle is still more dangerous than a fully healthy Chad Henne. Zero doubt in my mind.

[Gary Cooper]

No. Jacksonville would eventually catch on to the gameplan. There were throws Mahomes made on the final TD drive that Henne wouldn't make.

[Pepe Silvia]

Originally Posted by Gary Cooper

No. Jacksonville would eventually catch on to the gameplan. There were throws Mahomes made on the final TD drive that Henne wouldn't make.

Henne got away with a near pick as well.

[wazu]

Originally Posted by Pepe Silvia

Henne got away with a near pick as well.

Yeah we almost had pure disaster right out of the gate. Instead it ended up being longest TD drive in Chiefs playoff history and Henne getting showered with love. It's a fickle game, sometimes.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by wazu

Yeah we almost had pure disaster right out of the gate. Instead it ended up being longest TD drive in Chiefs playoff history and Henne getting showered with love. It's a fickle game, sometimes.

Yeah, weird how that works.

But I view Henne as a hero today.

That said, as long as Patrick Mahomes II isn't at increased risk of further injury, you play Mahomes. He's still got the arm and the quick reads.

It stinks that he's losing mobility right now, though. That's a major weapon for him. And it's a bit worrisome that some of his throws were off due to not being able to plant his foot properly. The Bengals are getting really lucky to not face 100 percent of Mahomes, though of course we'll still win.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Yeah, weird how that works.

But I view Henne as a hero today.

That said, as long as Patrick Mahomes II isn't at increased risk of further injury, you play Mahomes. He's still got the arm and the quick reads.

It stinks that he's losing mobility right now, though. That's a major weapon for him. And it's a bit worrisome that some of his throws were off due to not being able to plant his foot properly. The Bengals are getting really lucky to not face 100 percent of Mahomes, though of course we'll still win.

Don't get me wrong, Henne did GREAT. I even told my Dad yesterday he should get a game ball.

That being said, it was one drive. A very small sample size. We've seen him in extended duty, even in the playoffs. We almost lost to the Browns.

[Buehler445]

Dance with the girl that brought you.

50% Mahomes is better than 100% Henne.

[Stewie]

Not only no, but hell no.

If Patrick wants to play and the docs say it's OK, Henne sits. Besides, Henne's drive is nothing w/o Pacheco's run.

I hope his ankle is getting hourly attention. Isn't his wife a physical therapist or something? That's 24/7 medical care.

[cdcox]

There was more than one person in the game thread calling for Henne after the first drive of the second half.

[Direckshun]

Honestly, I would have played Henne and told Mahomes to sit down.

Playing Mahomes in that moment made it more likely we win the game, but less likely we win the AFCCG or Super Bowl if he aggravates it, which he absolutely does every time we had one of those stretch runs.

Meanwhile, Henne conducted a 98 yard drive, alright? Andy Reid called the Alex Smith offense for five years, he can hold the fort with Henne against an inferior Jaguars team for a half of football.

I think in normal circumstances, Reid would have done exactly that. Preserve your Ferrari for the race that matters.

I literally think Mahomes bullied the living crap out of everyone on the sideline and got himself back into the game.

I literally think it's that simple.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

Honestly, I would have played Henne and told Mahomes to sit down.

Playing Mahomes in that moment made it more likely we win the game, but less likely we win the AFCCG or Super Bowl if he aggravates it, which he absolutely does every time we had one of those stretch runs.

Meanwhile, Henne conducted a 98 yard drive, alright? Andy Reid called the Alex Smith offense for five years, he can hold the fort with Henne against an inferior Jaguars team for a half of football.

I think in normal circumstances, Reid would have done exactly that. Preserve your Ferrari for the race that matters.

I literally think Mahomes bullied the living crap out of everyone on the sideline and got himself back into the game.

I literally think it's that simple.

So you really think we should have saved Mahomes for a championship game we wouldn't even be playing in if it weren't for him?

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

So you really think we should have saved Mahomes for a championship game we wouldn't even be playing in if it weren't for him?

I would have. I think Henne keeps the ship upright the rest of the way.

Once he had the 98-yard drive, I figured Reid had a deep enough call sheet to get them where they needed to go.

[Chiefnj2]

At the start of the second half, early on I believe, Mahomes scrambled and came up very gimpy again. He missed his next few passes and then on the next drive they tried that odd QB sneak play. I thought they were going to pull him at that point because he was off and the play book was clearly limited because of his ankle.

[Archie Bunker]

I will admit there was a couple of times during the game where I questioned the decision. When you see your franchise unable to drop back, escape, or push off on throws it caused me to have a heightened sense of concern. It was sad to watch him in that condition, for lack of a better way to put it.

Overreaction on my part.