Chiefs’ Season Unravels: Injuries, Inconsistency, and a Harsh Reality Check
For years, the Kansas City Chiefs have been the gold standard in the AFC - a powerhouse led by Patrick Mahomes, decorated with three Super Bowl titles, and seemingly always in the hunt for another. But this season?
It’s been a different story entirely. With a 6-10 record heading into their final game against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Chiefs are staring down a harsh and unfamiliar reality: no playoff berth, no division crown, and no Mahomes.
Let’s rewind for a second. Back in Week 12, there was still a pulse.
A gritty win over the Indianapolis Colts bumped Kansas City to 6-5, and while the path ahead wasn’t easy, it wasn’t impossible either. But since that moment, the wheels have come off.
Five straight losses later, the Chiefs find themselves at the bottom of the AFC West standings - ahead of only the Raiders by a narrow margin.
The moment that truly changed everything came in Week 15. In a brutal loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, Mahomes went down with a season-ending knee injury. And just like that, the heart of the franchise - the engine behind their offensive magic - was out of the picture.
In stepped Gardner Minshew, a veteran known for his swagger and improvisation. But his run didn’t last long either.
A Week 16 injury against the Tennessee Titans forced the Chiefs to turn to third-stringer Chris Oladokun. And while Oladokun doesn’t bring the same on-field firepower as Mahomes, he’s drawn some attention for sounding eerily similar to the star quarterback in interviews - same cadence, same cool demeanor.
Oladokun recently addressed the looming question around Travis Kelce’s future, echoing sentiments Mahomes has shared in the past. He said it would be “great for Chiefs Kingdom” if the All-Pro tight end returned next season - a sentiment that hits a little harder given the uncertainty surrounding the team’s direction.
On the field, though, the growing pains have been hard to ignore. In a Christmas night loss to the Denver Broncos - a 20-13 grind - Oladokun completed 13 of 22 passes for just 66 yards.
While he did manage to find running back Brashard Smith for a touchdown, the offense never found its rhythm. His 3.0 yards per attempt tells the story: short throws, limited risk, and not nearly enough to threaten a defense for four quarters.
This isn’t the Chiefs team we’ve come to expect. The offensive line isn’t dominating like it used to.
The receiving corps has struggled with consistency. And without Mahomes orchestrating the show, the cracks have become glaring.
Still, this is a proud franchise. Even in a down year, the competitive spirit hasn’t disappeared.
But as they prepare for their season finale against the Raiders, there’s no sugarcoating it: this has been a humbling campaign. Injuries, offensive struggles, and a five-game losing streak have turned a once-promising season into a sobering reminder of how quickly things can change in the NFL.
There will be plenty of questions in the offseason - about Mahomes’ recovery, Kelce’s future, and how the Chiefs plan to regroup. But for now, Kansas City is simply trying to finish strong and find something - anything - to build on as they head into an uncharacteristically early offseason.