The Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up a season that, by their lofty standards, felt like a free fall. After years of dominance, it’s still jarring to see them land at 25th in the final power rankings. That’s not a typo - the Chiefs, the reigning dynasty of the AFC, finished 6-11 and now find themselves deep in the bottom third of the league.
Yes, Patrick Mahomes is still the quarterback. Yes, Andy Reid is still calling the shots. But this season was a stark reminder that even the NFL’s most consistent contenders aren’t immune to regression - especially when the problems run deeper than just a few missed opportunities.
There are two competing narratives about what went wrong. Reid and his staff have leaned into the idea that this team was just a few plays away from flipping the script.
A dropped pass here, a blown coverage there, and suddenly the Chiefs could’ve been back in the playoff mix. That theory banks on Mahomes returning to full strength post-knee surgery and picking up right where he left off.
Then there’s the more hard-nosed view, the one made famous by Bill Parcells: you are what your record says you are. And at 6-11, the Chiefs were simply not good enough. That line of thinking doesn’t just suggest tweaks - it calls for a serious reset.
The truth likely lives somewhere in between. But one thing is clear: Kansas City has decisions to make, and they can’t wait too long to make them.
Let’s start in the trenches. The offensive line, once a pillar of strength, showed cracks this season.
The team hoped rookie tackle Josh Simmons would help solidify things, but the results were uneven. Jawaan Taylor’s performance didn’t live up to expectations, and injuries only made things worse.
While a full overhaul might not be necessary, this unit needs reinforcements - and it starts with Taylor, who’s expected to be a cap casualty.
The run game didn’t do the offense any favors either. Isiah Pacheco, once seen as a spark plug in the backfield, now looks like he’s either on his way out or sliding down the depth chart.
That leaves the Chiefs with a glaring hole. Fans are clamoring for a big-name free agent or a high draft pick to bring some juice back to the position.
Whether GM Brett Veach and Reid go that route remains to be seen, but the urgency is real.
Of course, the biggest piece of the puzzle is Mahomes. If he returns healthy and sharp, the Chiefs instantly become relevant again.
But even with No. 15 under center, this team has work to do. The days of Mahomes masking every flaw are over - at least for now.
Kansas City isn’t far from being a contender again. But this offseason will be about more than just getting their quarterback back. It’s about retooling the pieces around him, especially in the trenches and the backfield, to make sure the Chiefs don’t find themselves this far down the rankings again anytime soon.