KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Many of the decisions that the Kansas City Chiefs have made over the years have been with this exact situation in mind: Their star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, gets hurt and they could need to win a couple of games without him.
Whereas the Chiefs once relied on the brilliance of their two-time MVP to simply outscore teams, the Chiefs the past few years have been able to lean on their defense to win games.
And under center, the Chiefs paid handsomely to bring in veteran Carson Wentz, who has started nearly 100 games during nine seasons in the NFL, to be Mahomes' primary backup.
This all became relevant on Sunday, when Mahomes had his ankle rolled up on while being tackled by the Browns’ Dalvin Tomlinson on a fourth down play late in the Chiefs’ 21-7 victory. Mahomes limped to the sideline and Wentz played the rest of the way in his place, though the two-time MVP said afterward that he would have tried to play had the game been closer.
Testing on Monday confirmed that Mahomes sustained a high-ankle sprain, a person familiar with the results told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the results were not announced by the team.
Now, the question is whether Mahomes — who has a history of ankle injuries — can recover on a short week. The Chiefs play the Texans on Saturday, then turn around for another short week with a trip to Pittsburgh on tap for Christmas Day.
“You know what you have to do to get back and I think that’s the most important thing,” Mahomes said after the game. “And now we just get back to the rehab part, the treatment part, and try to get ourselves ready on a short week.”
The Chiefs (13-1) have plenty riding on the next three weeks; they have a two-game lead on Buffalo for the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, though the Bills have the tiebreaker. But they also understand the playoffs matter far more than the regular season as they pursue a third straight Super Bowl title, so they could be conservative and give Mahomes plenty of time to recover.
That seems a less daunting decision these days the way their defense has played. And with Wentz waiting in the wings.
The Chiefs were minus-4 in turnover differential when they arrived in Cleveland. They were plus-2 when they left. They managed four interceptions and two fumble recoveries, repeatedly giving their offense the ball back in good field position.
“Coach (Andy Reid) kept preaching that it was time to turn the tide on the turnover margin. We know we’ve been a little short and we have to turn the tide,” Chiefs safety Justin Reid said. "They come in bunches and it’s coming at a good time.”
The Chiefs moved left guard Joe Thuney to tackle and inserted Mike Caliendo in his place, hoping to solve a season-long problem of protecting Mahomes' blind side. The decision seemed to be working in the first half, when Mahomes had more time to survey the field, but the Browns were still able to get far too much pressure on the quarterback in the second half.
It's hard to believe that Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie was voted an All-Pro before he ever picked off a pass. He finally got the first of his 48-game career on Sunday, and added three pass deflections and a tackle for loss in a brilliant performance.
“I saw it was grabbed after for me, but I have not seen it yet,” McDuffie said of the football he intercepted. "Once I get that, it will be with me all day, and I will be sleeping with it tonight.”
Joshua Williams continues to ride a rollercoaster as he replaces the injured Jaylen Watson. The cornerback struggled to contain Jerry Jeudy and was penalized for illegal contact and a facemask during the game.
Besides the injury to Mahomes, defensive back Chamarri Conner left the game against Cleveland with a concussion.
1 — The Chiefs need one more victory to match the franchise record, set in 2020 and matched two years ago.
The Chiefs play the Texans on Saturday in their regular-season home finale.
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Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Carson Wentz (11) passes in the pocket against the Cleveland Browns during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes watches play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A student opened fire at a private Christian school Monday morning in Wisconsin, killing two people in the final week before Christmas break. The shooter also died, police said.
Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes offered no details about the victims but said other people were wounded at Abundant Life Christian School, a K-12 school with about 390 students. Police previously said a total of five people had died but corrected the statement.
Barnes said the suspected shooter was a student who likely died by suicide.
“They found the person responsible who was down, deceased,” the chief said.
The wounded had injuries ranging broadly from minor to life-threatening, Barnes said.
“I’m feeling a little dismayed now, so close to Christmas,” he said. “Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. ... We need to figure out and try to piece together what exactly happened.”
Barnes said police were alerted shortly before 11 a.m. and did not fire their weapons when they rushed into the building.
Investigators believe the shooter used a 9mm pistol, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.
“I’m not aware that the school had metal detectors nor should schools have metal detectors. It’s a safe space,” Barnes said.
Police blocked off roads around the school. Federal agents were at the scene to assist local law enforcement.
“We are praying for the kids, educators, and entire Abundant Life school community as we await more information and are grateful for the first responders who are working quickly to respond,” Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement.
In a statement, the White House said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting and officials were in touch with local authorities to provide support.
Abundant Life Christian School, which is nondenominational, asked for prayers in a brief Facebook post.
John Diaz De Leon, who lives nearby and attends the adjacent City Church, told WMTV-TV he heard an intense blare of sirens as police responded.
“I didn’t know there were that many squad cars in Madison. We saw a few guys with long guns. They went into the school with a dog," De Leon said of police. “Later on I saw groups of kids coming out of the school into the church sanctuary.”
It was the the latest among dozens of school shootings across the U.S. in recent years, including especially deadly ones in Newtown, Connecticut; Parkland, Florida; and Uvalde, Texas.
The shootings have set off fervent debates about gun control and frayed the nerves of parents whose children are growing up accustomed to doing active shooter drills in their classrooms. But school shootings have done little to move the needle on national gun laws.
Firearms were the leading cause of death among children in 2020 and 2021, according to KFF, a nonprofit that researches health care issues.
Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer and Ed White contributed to this report.
Police gather as emergency vehicles are parked outside the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis., where multiple injuries were reported following a shooting, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Police investigate as emergency vehicles are parked outside the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis., where multiple injuries were reported following a shooting, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Emergency vehicles are parked outside of the SSM Health clinic where parents are being reunified with children after a shooting at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis., Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)
A police officer directs traffic as emergency vehicles are parked outside the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis., where multiple injuries were reported following a shooting, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Emergency vehicles are parked outside of the SSM Health clinic where parents are being reunified with children after a shooting at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis., Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)
Bus carrying students leave as emergency vehicles are parked outside the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis., where multiple injuries were reported following a shooting, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Emergency vehicles are parked outside the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis., where multiple injuries were reported following a shooting, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Emergency vehicles are parked outside the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis., where multiple injuries were reported following a shooting, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)
Emergency vehicles are parked outside the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis., where multiple injuries were reported following a shooting, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)
Emergency vehicles are parked outside the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis., where multiple injuries were reported following a shooting, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)
Emergency vehicles are parked outside the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wis., where multiple injuries were reported following a shooting, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)
