The Kansas City Chiefs are traveling to face the Denver Broncos in Week 18. The Chiefs have little to gain in this game, as they have already earned the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC.
With everything locked up, the Chiefs are going to rest some of their starters this Sunday to give those players extra time to heal up before the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs begin in just over two weeks.
The key player out for the Chiefs is starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is getting rest with a much-needed week off. He will be replaced by veteran backup Carson Wentz, who will be making his first start of the year.
Wentz Earns First Start Since Last Year in Week 18
Wentz was signed by the Chiefs this past offseason to replace Blaine Gabbert as the backup to Mahomes. He will be making his first start since last year, when Wentz was with the Los Angeles Rams.
In that game, Wentz led the Rams to victory and scored three total touchdowns — two through the air, along with a 12-yard run that sealed the win over the San Francisco 49ers.
With Mahomes sitting this week, it means that the Chiefs will not have the No. 10-ranked quarterback in the Pro Football Network Quarterback+ Metric. Wentz has only appeared in two games this year, so he is not rated in this metric.
Being a long-time veteran, Wentz is ready for this situation as he takes the field as the Chiefs starter in Week 18.
Coming 🔜 pic.twitter.com/Bcp9DjpxG5
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 2, 2025
Wentz knows the reason why he is starting, but his expectations are the same — leading the Chiefs to a win over the Broncos.
‘[My goal] is to have fun, play well, and ultimately more than anything is to get the win,” Wentz said during his media availability. “I am prepared to go out there and win and have a good performance with this offense.
“I have stayed locked in, stayed ready, and prepared every week. I have had the same routine since I’ve been in the NFL. Every week I have stayed locked in and ready to go.”
Being a nine-year veteran with 93 career starts, Wentz knows what it means to be ready for an NFL game.
Coaches Praising Wentz for Always Being Ready
Chiefs coaches love Wentz’s work ethic, and that includes those on the defensive side of the ball. Linebackers coach Brendan Daly is a big fan due to Wentz’s weekly commitment to being ready to play when his name gets called.
”He was one of the first people I ran into this morning when I got here,” Daly said. “I thought to myself, ‘You know what? That’s pretty cool that he’s going to get an opportunity this week.’
“People wouldn’t know he’s in here at 6 a.m. every day through the course of the year when he’s not preparing to be the starter. [I’m] happy for him.”
Because of the type of player and teammate he’s been during his first year in Kansas City, there seems to be a lot of confidence and joy in the fact Wentz is getting to start the Week 18 game against the Broncos.