Kansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been cleared from the NFL's concussion protocol and will play on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Mahomes, 25, told reporters he was cleared from the concussion protocol after taking a big hit in the divisional round versus the Cleveland Browns, which required the Super Bowl MVP to leave the game.
Mahomes and the Chiefs are competing on Sunday in their third consecutive AFC title game after last year's win over the Tennessee Titans, leading to the Super Bowl LIV in Miami berth and ultimately a win ending the 50-year championship drought. The year prior saw Patrick Mahomes get his first taste of postseason disappointment, losing to the New England Patriots in the 2018-19 AFC Championship Game.
Practicing the last few days, Mahomes had comments about him that the young Chiefs passer had “looked good” from teammates and head coach Andy Reid.
The Chiefs had backup quarterback Chad Henne waiting in the wings for Mahomes in case anything went wrong. Last week against the Browns Henne and Kansas City gritted through a too-close-for-comfort victory, preserving the lead Mahomes gave the Chiefs before exiting due to concussion protocol.
The 2018 NFL MVP will face off with rising star in third-year quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills from Arrowhead Stadium seeking a spot in Super Bowl LV in Tampa Bay. The winner of the title game will face the winner of Green Bay Packers–Tampa Bay Buccaneers from the NFC Championship Game.