Brownlee made a heck of a touchdown catch, the highlight of the Chiefs’ 20-17 loss to the Cardinals in the preseason opener here in Arizona — and, ahem, most certainly the highlight of the 48 seconds Patrick Mahomes spent on the field. But there’s something far more telling about that play. The throw. Or, rather, the decision to throw it at all.

Preseason football is upon us, and for most NFL teams, that means rookies and players on the roster bubble get the majority of the snaps, with starters sitting ... but not in Kansas City. Head coach Andy Reid stated that the plan for the Chiefs' preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals was to have Patrick Mahomes play the first quarter,

The NFL preseason provides opportunities of all shapes and sizes, with game plans and intended playing time always etched lightly in pencil on a coach's prep sheet. Anything can happen to dictate whether those plans are followed during a game.