Unfamiliar Territory: Chiefs' Season Unravels Amid Injuries, Mistakes, and Missed Moments
The Kansas City Chiefs are staring down a reality that’s become foreign during the Andy Reid era - a losing season. At 6-9 heading into their Christmas night matchup with the Denver Broncos, this version of the Chiefs is on track to become the first team under Reid to finish below .500 since he took over in 2013. And while the record tells part of the story, the bigger picture is painted by a season full of uncharacteristic breakdowns.
Losing Patrick Mahomes to a torn knee ligament was the gut punch that changed everything. For a team that’s been a model of consistency, especially in tight games, the Chiefs have suddenly found themselves on the wrong side of one-score finishes - the kind they used to own. Add in a rash of penalties, dropped passes, turnovers, and mental errors, and it’s easy to see how a franchise that’s played in five of the last six Super Bowls finds itself in uncharted waters.
But if you’re looking for someone who’s not dwelling on the record, look no further than defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. For Spags, it’s not about the standings or the stats - it’s about the feeling.
“I’m always chasing the feeling in the locker room,” he said.
That feeling? The post-win celebration.
The hugs. The camaraderie.
The payoff for the grind.
Spagnuolo’s been at this a long time - from a grad assistant gig at UMass in 1981 to becoming the only defensive coordinator in NFL history with four Super Bowl rings. He’s been a head coach, an assistant, and everything in between. But through it all, that locker room moment after a win remains his gold standard.
“To me, the best moment, the best hour of my life, is every time we win a game and we’re in that locker room and we’re hugging,” Spagnuolo said. “That’s special. Someday, when we’re not in this business, that’s what I’ll miss the most.”
It’s the kind of sentiment you can already imagine being part of a Hall of Fame speech someday - and Spagnuolo’s résumé might just earn him that moment.
What to Watch: Chiefs vs. Broncos
Despite the Chiefs being out of playoff contention, there’s still plenty of intrigue heading into their Christmas night clash with a Broncos team that enters at 12-3 and battling for the AFC’s top seed alongside New England.
Chiefs Player to Watch: Chris Jones, DT
Chris Jones is heading back to the Pro Bowl, named a starter alongside center Creed Humphrey. And while the sack numbers aren’t eye-popping this year - just four so far - don’t let that fool you. Jones remains a disruptive force in the middle, commanding double-teams and anchoring a defense that’s often been asked to carry the load.
Still, Jones wasn’t exactly throwing a party over the Pro Bowl nod.
“I’m super grateful and super, super appreciative that my peers and the fans consider me a Pro Bowler,” Jones said. “Early on in my career, I always wanted to make the Pro Bowl and everything.”
But his perspective shifted after 2018, when he posted 15.5 sacks - including an NFL-record streak of 11 straight games with at least one sack - and still didn’t get the Pro Bowl call.
“That’s when I realized none of it really matters,” Jones said. “I play to win rings, man.”
That mindset sums up the Chiefs’ culture under Reid - accolades are nice, but championships are the goal. And even in a down year, that standard hasn’t changed.
Broncos Player to Watch: Courtland Sutton, WR
On the other side, wideout Courtland Sutton continues to be a go-to weapon for Denver. The veteran leads the team with 69 catches, 972 yards, and seven touchdowns - a reliable presence in a Broncos offense that’s found its rhythm.
At 6-foot-4, Sutton presents a serious matchup problem for any defense - especially one that might be without its top two corners. Both Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson are dealing with injuries, which could leave the Chiefs leaning on a mix of young and unproven players in the secondary.
Last week against Tennessee, Kristian Fulton logged his most snaps of the season, and rookie Nohl Williams continues to see his role expand. Josh Williams, who’s started 12 games in his four-year career but has barely seen the field this season, could also be called into action.
It’s a tall task for a banged-up secondary, especially against a receiver like Sutton who thrives on physicality and contested catches.
And don’t overlook Marvin Mims Jr., either - the Broncos’ return man has quietly become one of the best in the league at flipping field position, a factor that could loom large in a tight game.
Bottom Line
This isn’t the Chiefs team we’ve come to expect - and they know it. But even in a season that’s fallen well short of expectations, there are still battles to be fought, lessons to be learned, and moments to chase.
For Spagnuolo and the rest of the locker room, it’s about more than salvaging a record. It’s about chasing that feeling - the one that comes when the clock hits zero and the team walks off the field together, victorious.
And for a franchise built on winning, that’s a feeling worth fighting for.