Kansas City Chiefs backup quarterback Chad Henne didn’t expect to play Saturday. But with Patrick Mahomes in the locker room getting X-rays on his ankle, Henne found himself thrust into action.
The Chiefs had just been pinned back at the 2-yard line when Henne walked onto the field during the divisional playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Arrowhead Stadium. The situation, however, wasn’t unfamiliar to Henne. Henne, of course, had to pinch-hit for Mahomes when he was out with an injury late against the Cleveland Browns two years ago in the divisional round.
Against the Browns, Henne helped the Chiefs get a first down to run out the clock. Against the Jaguars, Henne led the Chiefs on a 98-yard scoring drive that culminated with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce. The Chiefs won 27-20 and earned a spot in the AFC championship game for the fifth consecutive year.
“I don’t want to look over how great of a quarterback Pat is and what he means to this team,” Kelce said. “But if anybody goes down, it’s next man in. If I go down, it’s next man. It’s just the mentality you have to have, especially in a playoff game like this. You can’t miss a beat.
“And we know that if it’s up to Pat he’s going to be in there. And I’m sure he had some words with everyone on the sideline wanting to get back in there as fast as possible. But we had a veteran guy. Chad Henne stepping up to the plate yet again in the playoffs. Playoff Chad, baby. We keep finding ways to win with him in at QB.”
The 37-year-old Henne completed 5 of 7 passes for 23 yards on the drive and got things going in the right direction with a completion to Kelce on the first play. Henne said he took what the defense gave him and he was ready when he stepped onto the field.
“I don’t know if it’s like riding a bike,” Henne said. “But you’re always prepared. And I think with this offense, and all the weapons that we have, and staying prepared each and every moment, you have to stay ready. And when your number’s called you go in there and do what you did in practice and meeting rooms, and you just take it into the game.”
With Henne in at quarterback, Chiefs coach Andy Reid didn’t change the offense. Instead, he just believed Henne would get the job done even with his team up against its own goal line.
“That’s why he’s such a great coach,” Henne said. “He believes in the guys that are on his team and he had the confidence in me to throw the pass, obviously. We’re going to go out there and try to execute at the best of our ability and move the ball. That’s our jobs as players.”
During the regular season, Henne only played sparingly in three games and went 0 for 2 throwing the ball. Still, Reid had no concerns.
“Everybody trusted Chad,” Reid said.
Since Henne’s arrival in 2018, Henne has made just one start and his last playoff appearance was the Browns’ game two years ago. The Chiefs advanced to the Super Bowl that year, and Henne’s hoping they can do it again next week.
“This is one of the best organizations I’ve ever been a part of,” Henne said. “It’s a true team feeling. Everybody supports one another. There’s never a guy out there that’s just above everybody else. We put our egos aside. We’re humble and everybody gives the credit when it’s due. And it comes from the top down. It’s an unbelievable organization that we run here, and I couldn’t be happier that I’m here.”
