After years of setting the standard in the AFC - and collecting three Super Bowl titles along the way - the Kansas City Chiefs are staring down a sobering reality. Instead of coasting into the postseason as AFC West champs, they’re limping into Week 18 with a 6-10 record and a season finale against the Las Vegas Raiders that means little more than pride.
This isn't the script anyone in Kansas City expected. Midway through the season, there was still hope.
After a gritty Week 12 win over the Colts pushed them to 6-5, it looked like the Chiefs might find their rhythm just in time. But since that victory, it's been a freefall - five straight losses, and now they sit above only the Raiders in the division standings.
The turning point? Week 15, when everything changed.
That’s when Patrick Mahomes, the heartbeat of this franchise and one of the most dynamic quarterbacks the league has ever seen, went down with a season-ending knee injury against the Chargers. It was a gut punch - not just to the team’s playoff hopes, but to the entire identity of the Chiefs' offense.
In Mahomes' absence, Kansas City turned to Gardner Minshew, a capable veteran with a knack for improvisation. But even that plan didn’t hold for long. Minshew was knocked out in Week 16 against the Titans, forcing the Chiefs to hand the reins to third-stringer Chris Oladokun.
Oladokun, a young quarterback with limited NFL experience, was suddenly tasked with leading a team that had grown accustomed to Mahomes’ magic. And while no one expects him to replicate the MVP’s skill set, there was something familiar about him - not in his play, but in his poise. When Oladokun addressed the media, his cadence and tone echoed Mahomes in a way that caught some attention.
He even channeled the star QB when asked about Travis Kelce’s future, sharing a sentiment that would resonate across Chiefs Kingdom: it would be “great” if Kelce returned next season. With whispers of retirement surrounding the All-Pro tight end, that message hit home.
On the field, though, it’s been tough sledding. On Christmas night, the Chiefs dropped a 20-13 decision to the Denver Broncos.
It was a hard-fought game - no shortage of effort from a team still playing with pride - but the offense struggled to find rhythm. Oladokun completed 13 of 22 passes for just 66 yards, managing a touchdown pass to running back Brashard Smith but averaging only 3.0 yards per attempt.
That kind of production simply isn’t going to cut it in today’s NFL.
The Chiefs are used to being the hunters - the team every opponent circles on their calendar. Now, they’re in unfamiliar territory: trying to avoid finishing last in the division. Injuries, inconsistency, and a brutal stretch run have all played their part.
But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about this franchise, it’s that they don’t stay down for long. The final game against the Raiders may not mean much in the standings, but for Kansas City, it’s a chance to close a painful chapter with a little bit of fight - and maybe, a glimpse of what the next one might look like.