Are the Kansas City Chiefs Finally Running Out of Answers?
There’s a new feeling creeping into Chiefs Kingdom - and it’s not the kind fans are used to. It’s not excitement, not anticipation, not even frustration. It’s something far more unfamiliar in the Patrick Mahomes era: doubt.
For years, the Kansas City Chiefs have carried themselves - and been viewed - as inevitable. Since Mahomes took over in 2018 and launched the team into a new stratosphere of success, the Chiefs haven’t just been good.
They’ve been resilient, adaptable, and, frankly, terrifying to play against. No matter the obstacle, they found a way to win.
That sense of invincibility became part of their identity.
But now? Things feel different.
Let’s rewind for a moment. Mahomes’ 2018 breakout season was electric - 50 touchdowns, MVP, and a trip to the AFC Championship Game.
It was a thrill ride that reminded Kansas City fans of the Royals’ 2014 run: unexpected, joyful, and full of promise. But once that promise turned into a Super Bowl win in 2019, expectations changed.
Suddenly, anything short of a championship felt like a letdown. And for a while, the Chiefs kept meeting - even exceeding - those expectations.
They won it all in 2019 after Mahomes returned from a knee injury that looked far worse than the two-game absence it became. In 2020, they powered through a pandemic-altered season to go 14-2 and return to the Super Bowl.
When Tyreek Hill was traded, many wondered if the offense would take a step back. Instead, Mahomes won another MVP and delivered another Lombardi Trophy.
Even when the offense sputtered in 2022, the defense rose to the occasion, helping the team become the first back-to-back Super Bowl champs in nearly 20 years. The following season? A rookie left tackle struggled mightily, so the Chiefs kicked their left guard outside and still managed to win 15 games - 11 of them by a single score - en route to a third straight Super Bowl appearance.
Time after time, the Chiefs found answers. But this season, the questions are piling up - and the solutions aren’t coming.
This isn’t just one issue. It’s a collection of problems that are starting to feel like they’re working in concert.
The passing game is sputtering against man coverage. The run game lacks any kind of explosion.
The defense, once the team’s stabilizing force, can’t consistently generate pressure with four, and blitzing leaves the back end vulnerable.
It’s not just a crack in the hull. It’s the kind of structural failure that makes you wonder if the ship is still seaworthy.
And now, the injuries are stacking up - particularly along the offensive line. Rookie left tackle Josh Simmons is seeking a second opinion on a wrist injury.
Right guard Trey Smith is dealing with both a high and low ankle sprain. Right tackle Jawaan Taylor exited last week’s loss to the Cowboys with a triceps issue.
That’s three starters, all banged up, heading into a must-win game.
The timing couldn’t be worse.
Kansas City faces the Houston Texans this Sunday in a game that could have serious playoff implications. The Texans, by the way, are the only team in the league with two defenders already in double-digit sacks. If you thought blocking Denver’s Nik Bonitto was a problem, imagine trying to contain two players like him - potentially without either of your starting tackles.
It’s a daunting matchup, and one that could further expose the Chiefs’ offensive struggles.
Oddsmakers still have the Chiefs as 3.5-point favorites at home. That’s a nod to the team’s pedigree, their coaching, and, of course, Mahomes.
But at this point, the spread doesn’t matter. Kansas City isn’t playing for style points.
They’re playing for survival. A win, no matter how ugly, would keep them in the thick of the AFC playoff race.
A loss wouldn’t mathematically eliminate them - but it would be another step in the wrong direction.
We’ve seen this team try to patch things up for 12 weeks now. The fixes haven’t worked. The same issues keep showing up, and now they’re facing a team that’s built to exploit them.
Still, if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years, it’s to never fully count out Mahomes and this coaching staff. They’ve earned that benefit of the doubt - but for the first time in a long time, that doubt is starting to creep in.
And right now, it’s getting harder to shake.