The Kansas City Chiefs are navigating unfamiliar territory-and somehow, fan confidence is ticking up, even as the team faces its most challenging stretch in years.
Let’s start with the headline: Patrick Mahomes is done for the season. A torn ACL and LCL is a brutal blow, not just for the Chiefs, but for the NFL as a whole.
Mahomes is the engine, the magician, the guy who makes the impossible look routine. Without him, Kansas City’s offense loses its identity.
And yet, despite the gut punch, confidence among Chiefs fans has actually risen from last week’s season-low mark of 13%.
It’s a curious twist, but maybe that bump in belief isn’t about this season at all. Maybe it’s about fans shifting their focus to the long game-getting through the final three weeks, resetting, and looking ahead to a healthier, reloaded 2026.
After all, when you’ve had a run like the Chiefs have over the past five years, one down year doesn’t shake the foundation. It just reminds you how fragile success can be in this league.
The Kelce Countdown?
Now, let’s talk about the heart and soul of the offense: Travis Kelce. According to a recent fan poll, nearly 75% of Chiefs fans believe this could be Kelce’s final season.
He turns 36 soon, and while he’s still producing, the wear and tear of a decade-plus of high-level football is real. If this is the end, the final chapter could be written on Christmas Day at Arrowhead, when the Chiefs host the Denver Broncos.
That’s a potential farewell game for one of the greatest tight ends to ever do it-on the field where he became a legend.
Kelce’s connection with Mahomes has been the stuff of highlight reels and Hall of Fame arguments. If this is indeed his swan song, it won’t just be the end of an era in Kansas City-it’ll be the end of one of the most dynamic QB-TE duos the league has ever seen.
Looking Ahead (and Down the Draft Board)
With Mahomes sidelined and Kelce possibly on the way out, the focus has naturally shifted toward the future. And that means draft positioning.
Roughly half of the fans surveyed expect Kansas City to win just one of its final three games. It’s not hard to see why.
The offense is in transition, and the schedule isn’t exactly a cakewalk.
This week, the Chiefs hit the road to face the 2-12 Tennessee Titans. If there’s a win left on the board, this might be it. If not, Week 18 against the Raiders could be the last shot to end the season on a high note.
Minshew Mania?
Gardner Minshew is now at the controls. He’s not Mahomes-nobody is-but he’s a capable, experienced quarterback who’s been in these situations before.
And despite the circumstances, fans across the league still see the Chiefs pulling off a win in Tennessee this weekend. That’s not just a nod to Minshew’s ability to manage a game-it’s a sign of respect for Andy Reid’s coaching, the resilience of the roster, and the championship DNA still embedded in this team.
It’s a strange time in Kansas City. The dynasty isn’t over, but it’s definitely in a holding pattern.
Mahomes will be back. The roster will reload.
But for now, the final stretch of 2025 is about weathering the storm, honoring the legends who may be playing their final snaps, and setting the stage for what comes next.