The Kansas City Chiefs banked heavily on franchise quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ skills when they finalized the roster ahead of the season. The only depth behind Mahomes on the QB depth chart was Gardner Minshew. But it wasn’t just about the Mahomes magic that made Andy Reid keep just two QBs on the chart. It had a lot to do with Minshew himself.

As coach Reid praised Minshew recently, “Gardner’s a brilliant guy first of all. I know he’s got the mustache and the hair and all that stuff that goes with it. But he’s brilliant. He’s got such a good feel for things as far as the game goes, and I think it’s great for Pat to be able to talk to him.” Aside from the Big Red-approved mustache and hair, the experience and savvy Minshew brings to the table speak volumes.

Sure, Minshew lost 3 yards in two carries while running out the clock in the Chiefs’ Week 4 vs. the Baltimore Ravens. But the 37-20 victory was all but certain and only awaited the final whistle at that point. Last season with the Las Vegas Raiders, he threw for 2013 yards and 9 touchdowns. Altogether, his stat sheet boasts a massive 11,950 passing yards with 68 touchdowns across 6 seasons before joining the Chiefs. If Mahomes does go down during the season, Minshew already has the talent to take over and bring home some wins for his team. It’s something we have seen in the preseason already.

In the Chiefs’ preseason opener, Patrick Mahomes had the only touchdown pass. Minshew, on the other hand, had six out of nine completions for 54 yards, and brought a second touchdown for the Chiefs with a successful rushing attempt. If the worst outcome sidelines Mahomes during this season, coach Reid knows he has a tested veteran to fill the gap and lead the team until Mahomes returns. 

Having secured two wins, the Chiefs now head into Week 5 to clash against the Jacksonville Jaguars. And if their Week 4 victory over the Ravens has been a sign, Andy Reid’s squad has finally found its rhythm after a rough start to the season. After all, one of their most explosive offensive pieces is finally back.

Patrick Mahomes’ magic magnified vs. the Ravens

Patrick Mahomes was surgical in Week 4. Despite all the talk in the weeks past about a struggling offense and decreasing targets for Mahomes, the starting quarterback found 9 different targets to gain yardage. Throwing for 270 yards, Mahomes brought in 4 touchdowns, all from different targets, fully utilizing the team’s offensive strengths. While the Ravens carved out an early lead, once the Chiefs snatched it in the second quarter, Baltimore never saw their lead again.

For the Ravens, the biggest blow came in the third quarter when starting quarterback Lamar Jackson left the field with a hamstring injury. As for the Chiefs, the biggest offensive boost came from wideout Xavier Worthy being back on the field. Worthy didn’t have any touchdowns, but his impact was undeniable. Worthy logged 38 rushing yards across 2 carries and 83 receiving yards across 5 carries. But as Patrick Mahomes noted post-game, it was just his presence that was enough to throw the opposing defense into chaos.

As Mahomes put it, “He’s just so explosive. When you get the football in his hands, it just makes defenses have to adjust. And when they adjust – he gets so much attention on him, other guys can make plays happen. Just having him out there, not only for his physical abilities but just the morale of the room, I thought it was huge.” While the offense hummed, the Chiefs’ defense also logged 43 solo tackles and landed 8 quarterback hits. Moving into Week 5, the Chiefs are now on a mission to carve out more victories and leave that early-season stumble in the dust. With the entire roster humming back to life again, will we get to see similar fireworks ahead?