The Chiefs had a chance to escape Denver with a win, but instead they walked out with a 28-24 loss and a wave of frustration from their own fans.
Kansas City never lost a fumble in Sunday’s game, yet the finish felt like a giveaway anyway. The Broncos’ win probability dropped to 10.2% early in the fourth quarter and sat at just 11.9% with 2:44 left in regulation, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Still, Denver found the go-ahead touchdown with less than 2 minutes remaining and then held the Chiefs at the goal line as time expired.
That comeback also shifted the division picture. The NFL said Denver’s chances of winning the AFC West are now 64%. Had the Broncos lost, that number would have been 24%.
The reaction online was immediate and harsh. Chiefs fans zeroed in on everything from the coaching staff to kicker Harrison Butker, who missed a field-goal attempt, and plenty of them wanted change.
“3 plays from the 1 yard line and we can’t score. Just brutal.”
“Leave the coaches in Denver. Complete and total failure of the staff.”
“Pathetic,” another said. “Chiefs need a new plan. The Reid/Bienemy plan is a wash.”
On Reddit, one fan put the blame on the game’s final stretch and the officiating: “This game was coaching and some horrible refs and now instead of sitting comfortably ahead in the division we’re now in a dog fight for it.”
Another Reddit post pointed to the late sack and the decision to kick: “Pat taking that sack and then Andy still deciding to kick a 50+ yard FG in the rain with a washed butker absolutely unraveled that game.”
Butker took plenty of heat elsewhere, too. One X user wrote: “I have been a Butker supporter and defender for years but after today.
Bring up Mr Massage and put Butker to the practice squad. It wasn’t all his fault but if he makes that kick we kick a game winner.”
There were also complaints about the final sequence near the goal line and the broader playcalling.
“Only player that showed up was Emmitt Johnson,” a Facebook user wrote.
Another fan on Facebook wrote: “2 plays to run it. Bounce it outside and dive.”
“Butker, Jones and Moore can walk home,” a fan wrote on Facebook.
“The donkeys didn’t beat the Chiefs. The chiefs beat the Chiefs....” a Facebook fan wrote.
Not every voice was angry. One fan tried to keep things upbeat.
“I believe stay strong.. You’ve Got this!!” a fan named Donna Walker wrote on X.
The criticism kept rolling in after that, with some fans calling for changes to Andy Reid, others to Butker, and some to the roster as a whole.
“I blame the coaches for this one. #ChiefsKingdom”
“I don’t hate the play calling but that’s because there’s no trust in the kicker. He’s gotta go…tonight.
Fire Butker. #ChiefsKingdom”
“@Chiefs Reid needs to be on the hotseat! Not going for it on 4th down, and then settling for a field goal attempt with a 3 point lead is unacceptable!
Also, cut @buttkicker7 now! #ChiefsKingdom #KCvsDEN”
“I really thank Andy Reid for coming to KC to coach the @Chiefs , and I also hope he retires at the end of rhe season. #ChiefsKingdom #Chiefs”
“This should be the last season for:-Andy Reid -Chris Jones (trade)-Travis Kelce -Jalen royals-Xavier worthy (trade) -Josh Simmons #chiefskingdom”
“Another game Chris Jones did absolutely nothing #ChiefsKingdom”
“Easily one of the worst weeks in chiefs history. Franchise is a joke”
“@Chiefs Fire Andy , veach and Dave . This loss has been on them .”
“If the chiefs lose to the jets next week fire everyone under Clark hunt minus Mahomes and the training staff”
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