Chiefs, locked in at No. 4 seed, will start Patrick Mahomes at QB Sunday

2:07 PM ET

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs will take what for them is a most unusual step by starting rookie Patrick Mahomes II at quarterback Sunday against the Denver Broncos.

Mahomes would be the first rookie to start for the Chiefs at quarterback in a non-strike game since Steve Fuller in 1979.

"The biggest thing for me is just to expect to go out there and win any way possible, if that's 300 yards or 100 yards or whatever it is," Mahomes said. "Whatever it takes to get a win is the biggest thing."

The game in Denver is meaningless to the Chiefs with regard to division standings or playoff seed. At 9-6, the Chiefs have clinched the AFC West championship and are locked into the conference's fourth seed regardless of what happens Sunday.

That's why Chiefs coach Andy Reid will sit veteran Alex Smith on Sunday in favor of Mahomes. The Chiefs traded up 17 spots in the first round to draft Mahomes with the 10th overall pick. He is the first quarterback drafted by the Chiefs in the first round since Todd Blackledge in 1983.

Mahomes has been the No. 2 quarterback all season but hasn't taken a snap in a game.

"Every snap that he gets is a valuable snap for him for whenever he has that chance of getting in there (as the full-time starter)," Reid said. "Fortunately, we're in a situation where we can do that."

Mahomes will avoid becoming the first quarterback drafted in the top 10 not to start a game during his rookie season since Jake Locker in 2011, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

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