The mood in Kansas City right now? Let’s just say it’s not exactly festive.
The Chiefs dropped another one in primetime, this time to the Houston Texans, and the frustration is starting to boil over. At 6-7, Kansas City is officially out of the divisional race-a race they’ve owned for nearly a decade.
For a fanbase used to dominance, especially with Patrick Mahomes under center, this season feels like a gut punch.
Sunday night’s loss wasn’t just another tally in the L column-it was a messy, disjointed showing filled with dropped passes, costly penalties, and some head-scratching coaching decisions. But even in a game that left Chiefs Kingdom searching for answers, there was at least one unexpected silver lining: rookie left tackle Esa Pole.
Let’s set the stage. Pole wasn’t even supposed to see the field.
He was a rookie free agent, buried on the depth chart, and making his professional debut. Then, disaster struck on the very first offensive play-backup left tackle Wanya Morris, already filling in for injured starters Josh Simmons and Jawaan Taylor, went down with a lower leg injury during an Isiah Pacheco run.
Just like that, Pole was in. Protecting Mahomes’ blindside.
Against the league’s top-ranked defense. On national television.
No pressure, right?
And yet, Pole held his own. He wasn’t flawless-no one’s pretending he was-but considering the circumstances, his performance was more than just serviceable.
He lined up across from one of the NFL’s most disruptive fronts, featuring the likes of Danielle Hunter, and didn’t look overwhelmed. That’s not just commendable-it’s potentially significant.
The offensive line as a whole was a makeshift unit. Mike Caliendo stepped in at right guard for the injured Trey Smith.
Jaylon Moore filled in at right tackle. It was a patchwork group facing a defense that’s been suffocating opponents all season.
Head coach Andy Reid acknowledged the challenge postgame, saying, “They battled. There were some early hiccups, but I thought they battled against one of the best defensive lines in the league.
It was respectable for what they were dealing with.”
Reid specifically pointed to Pole’s effort, noting the rookie had “limited time” in practice and was thrust into a critical role. “He stepped up and was asked to play a crucial position at a crucial time, and I thought he did a respectable job.
Not perfect, but good. Good enough.”
That might sound like tempered praise, but given the stakes and the opponent, it says a lot. Pole didn’t just survive-he competed. And that’s a big deal for a team that’s been searching for long-term answers at the tackle position.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. No one’s anointing Pole as the next great Chiefs lineman.
But in a season where the offensive line has been a revolving door, his ability to step in and hold the line-literally-offers a glimmer of hope. Depth matters, especially when injuries pile up.
And Pole just showed he might be able to provide it.
The Chiefs have already invested heavily at tackle, using a first-round pick this year on Josh Simmons, who, when healthy, looks every bit the franchise cornerstone. But the right side is less stable.
Jawaan Taylor may be a cap casualty in the offseason. Jaylon Moore is more of a stopgap.
Wanya Morris is heading into a contract year. There are a lot of moving parts-and not a lot of clarity.
That’s where Pole comes in. If he can continue to show he’s capable of stepping in when needed, it gives Kansas City some breathing room.
It doesn’t solve everything, but it helps. And in a year that’s been full of questions, that kind of answer-however small-matters.
So yes, the Chiefs are in unfamiliar territory. The playoffs are slipping away.
The frustration is real. But amid the chaos, Esa Pole gave fans something they haven’t had much of this season: a reason to believe that brighter days are still ahead.