Chiefs' Playoff Hopes All But Gone After Primetime Collapse Against Texans
The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2025 season, once filled with high expectations, has officially veered off course. After a gut-punch loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday Night Football, the Chiefs now sit at 6-7, and their playoff hopes are hanging by the thinnest of threads. For a team that once made a habit of thriving in tight games and rising to the moment, this year’s version has struggled to find its footing-and time is running out.
From Contenders to Question Marks
Kansas City’s identity used to be built around clutch performances, late-game heroics, and a quarterback who could erase deficits in the blink of an eye. But this season has been a different story.
Injuries have piled up, execution has been inconsistent, and the margin for error has disappeared. The league didn’t just catch up to the Chiefs-they passed them.
Sunday’s loss to the Texans wasn’t just another mark in the loss column. It was a defining moment. A game that felt like a must-win turned into a missed opportunity, and now the Chiefs are staring up at a crowded AFC playoff picture with little room to maneuver.
The AFC Playoff Picture: Chiefs on the Outside Looking In
Here’s where things stand in the AFC after Week 14:
- Denver Broncos (11-2) - 1st in AFC West
- New England Patriots (11-2) - 1st in AFC East
- Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4) - 1st in AFC South
- Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) - 1st in AFC North
- Buffalo Bills (9-4) - 2nd in AFC East
- Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) - 2nd in AFC West
- Houston Texans (8-5) - 2nd in AFC South
- Indianapolis Colts (8-5) - 3rd in AFC South
- Baltimore Ravens (6-7) - 2nd in AFC North
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-7) - 3rd in AFC West
- Miami Dolphins (6-7) - 3rd in AFC East
The tiebreaker between the Chiefs, Ravens, and Dolphins comes down to conference record. Baltimore leads that group at 4-5, giving them the edge.
Kansas City sits at 3-5 in the AFC, while Miami is at 3-6. That slight edge puts the Ravens ahead in the pecking order, leaving the Chiefs on the outside with three weeks to go.
According to NextGen Stats, Kansas City’s playoff chances now sit at just 15%. That’s a steep fall for the reigning AFC champions-and a stark reminder of how quickly things can change in this league.
Houston Rising, Denver Dominating
While the Chiefs were stumbling, the Texans were seizing the moment. With back-to-back wins over the Colts and now the Chiefs, Houston has moved into the AFC’s seventh seed and remains firmly in the hunt for the AFC South crown. Their young core is playing with confidence, and they’ve quietly become one of the more dangerous teams in the conference down the stretch.
Adding to the sting for Kansas City is the sight of the Denver Broncos sitting atop the AFC at 11-2. Not only are they leading the division, but they’re also in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 seed in the conference. The Patriots might have the easier remaining schedule, but if both teams finish with the same record, Denver holds the tiebreaker.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for a Chiefs team that once ruled the AFC West with an iron grip. Now, they’re looking up at a Broncos squad that’s playing some of its best football in years.
What Comes Next for Kansas City?
There’s no sugarcoating this: the Chiefs’ 2025 campaign has been a disappointment. The talent is still there in spots, but the depth issues, injuries, and lack of execution in key moments have all added up. And while the door to the postseason isn’t completely shut, it’s barely cracked open.
This offseason will be pivotal. General manager Brett Veach will have to take a long, hard look at this roster and decide where the reset button needs to be pressed. Whether it’s the offensive line, the receiving corps, or the defense, changes are likely coming.
Because if there’s one thing this season has made clear, it’s that the rest of the AFC isn’t waiting around. The Chiefs have been the hunted for years. Now, they’re the ones doing the chasing.
And unless something changes quickly, they might be chasing for a while.