Chiefs Miss the Mark: What Went Wrong in Kansas City and What Comes Next
For the better part of a decade, the Kansas City Chiefs have been the NFL’s gold standard. With Patrick Mahomes under center and Andy Reid calling the shots, the Chiefs weren’t just a perennial contender - they were the team everyone else was chasing.
But in 2025, the wheels came off. And now, for the first time in the Mahomes era, Kansas City will be watching the postseason from home.
Let’s break down how a team built on consistency, creativity, and championship pedigree finds itself on the outside looking in - and what lies ahead as the curtain falls on a season that never quite found its rhythm.
A Season of Slips, Stumbles, and Setbacks
Kansas City entered the year with the usual high expectations - and why wouldn’t they? Mahomes was still Mahomes, Reid was still Reid, and the defense had shown flashes of elite play. But from the jump, something was off.
This wasn’t the same well-oiled machine fans had grown used to. The Chiefs were plagued by the kind of mistakes that had rarely defined them in years past.
Close losses piled up. Drops in key moments.
Missed field goals that shifted momentum. Week after week, it felt like the Chiefs were just one play away - but that play never came.
And then came the gut punch.
In Week 15, with the season already hanging by a thread, Mahomes suffered a torn ACL. The injury not only ended his season, but effectively slammed the door on any last-ditch playoff hopes. It was a brutal blow for a team that had already been fighting uphill.
Mathematically Eliminated: Where the Chiefs Stand Now
Heading into Week 17, the Chiefs sit at 6-9 - good for 10th place in the AFC. That’s not just out of the playoff picture; it’s completely out of reach.
Their Week 15 loss to the Chargers sealed their fate. Even with two games left at that point, the math was no longer in their favor.
Here’s how the AFC playoff race currently shapes up:
- Denver Broncos (12-3)
- New England Patriots (12-3)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
- Buffalo Bills (11-4)
- Houston Texans (10-5)
The Chiefs, at 6-9, are behind not only the top seven, but also the Colts (8-7), Ravens (7-8), and tied with the Dolphins. There’s no path to the wild card, no miracle scenario. The postseason is officially out of reach.
AFC West: A Changing of the Guard
For years, the AFC West has run through Kansas City. That’s no longer the case.
The Broncos and Chargers have taken control of the division, with Denver leading the way at 12-3 and Los Angeles close behind at 11-4. The Chiefs, meanwhile, are locked into third place, ahead of only the struggling Raiders.
It’s a rare sight - the Chiefs looking up in the standings. But it’s also a sign of how competitive the AFC West has become and how narrow the margin for error is in today’s NFL.
One Game Left: Chiefs at Raiders in Week 18
There’s one game left on the schedule: a road trip to Las Vegas to face the Raiders. In past years, this might’ve been a tune-up for the playoffs. Now, it’s a chance for Kansas City to end a frustrating season on a high note - or at least with some pride.
With Mahomes sidelined, the spotlight shifts to the supporting cast. It’s an opportunity for younger players to show what they can do, for the coaching staff to evaluate, and for the team to begin laying the groundwork for what comes next.
What’s Next for Kansas City?
This season will sting - no question. But this is still a franchise built around one of the best quarterbacks in the game and one of the sharpest minds on the sideline.
The Chiefs have earned the benefit of the doubt. Dynasties don’t last forever, but great teams know how to evolve.
The offseason will bring questions: How do they reload? Where do they need to improve?
How do they protect Mahomes - both literally and figuratively - moving forward? But if history is any guide, don’t expect Kansas City to stay down for long.
They’ve been too good, for too long, to let one bad season define them.
But for now, the 2025 campaign will go down as the year the Chiefs fell short - not for lack of talent, but because the little things added up, and the big injury came at the worst possible time.
One more game. Then, it’s back to the drawing board.