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We are at the business end of the NFL season, with Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow expected to provide a fascinating battle as the Kansas City Chiefs host the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship game. Burrow has defeated Patrick all three times they have faced each other in their careers. The Chiefs quarterback, on the other hand, has a Super Bowl title and an NFL MVP under his belt, with another expected to be added this year.
The former Atlanta Falcons coach backed the Kansas City Chiefs to avenge their loss in last year's championship game. Speaking exclusively to Sportskeeda's "The BallFather Podcast," Smith said,
"Well, I've been driving this Kansas City train all year lont. I've got to continue to believe that Patrick Mahomes is going to have a miraculous recovery from his high ankle sprain. And he's going to be able to do enough to get the job done. And get a win for the Kansas City Chiefs against the Bengals."
He also acknowledged that his brain might be giving him different signals, but he is going with his heart here. Even with Patrick's injury, he sees Kansas head coach Andy Reid getting enough out of his quarterbacks, as Chad Henne showed in the Divisional Round against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"And Reg, I can't be wishy washy. I've been riding with them all year long. I'm going with my heart, my brain probably is telling me something different. But I'm not going to change. I'm not going to jump off. I gotta have have faith in Andy Reid, and him putting together a game plan that's going to protect the quarterback and allow him to be successful. And if not, as we saw in the game last week, we can win, we can score from 98 yards with a backup quarterback named Chad Henne."
Burrow might overcome Mahomes if he is not fully fit
Coach Smith also left open the possibility that due to his injury, Mahomes might be outplayed by Burrow.
"If Mahomes is healthy and he's not hindered, I'm going with the Chiefs because I've gone and rode with them all the time, but I think it's gonna be a close game. And it wouldn't surprise me one bit if the Bengals, the Bengals, win on the road, just because of the injury to Mahomes."
He is not the only one as the betting lines have flipped to favor the Bengals after initially favoring Mahomes over Burrow.
Ultimately, it will come down to who plays better on the day, with both teams having sufficient talent in the quarterback position to lock up a Super Bowl spot.
