The Kansas City Chiefs walked into Thanksgiving with playoff dreams still intact. But after a 31-28 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, those hopes took a serious hit.
Now sitting at 6-6, the Chiefs are in unfamiliar territory - needing to run the table just to have a shot at extending their postseason streak. For a team that’s been the gold standard in the AFC for the better part of a decade, this is uncharted water.
And yet, even in the loss, Patrick Mahomes reminded everyone exactly who he is.
The two-time MVP threw four touchdown passes in Dallas, keeping the Chiefs in the fight from start to finish. It wasn’t enough to get the win, but it was another example of Mahomes doing everything he could to carry this team.
Statistically, he’s having a season that stacks up with his best. He ranks fourth in the league with 3,238 passing yards - a pace that would land him at 4,587 by season’s end, his highest total since his 2022 MVP campaign.
He’s also fifth in touchdown passes with 22, putting him on track for 31 - again, his best mark since 2022.
So if Mahomes is still playing at an elite level, what’s going wrong in Kansas City?
That’s the million-dollar question. The Chiefs are getting strong quarterback play, but the margins in the NFL are razor-thin. A couple of blown coverages, a stalled drive here or there, and suddenly a team that’s used to clinching playoff berths by December is fighting for its life.
And yet, the conversation around Mahomes has started to shift - not because of his performance, but because of the team’s record. That’s where NBA superstar Kevin Durant stepped in with some strong words on the Up & Adams Show. When asked if the Chiefs' struggles this season could damage Mahomes’ legacy, Durant didn’t hold back.
“What kind of question is that? That makes no sense at all,” Durant said. “If anybody’s questioning Pat Mahomes’ legacy from one off year… He could miss the playoffs for the rest of his career, I don’t give a damn… This man is Patrick Mahomes.”
That’s not just lip service. It’s a reminder of what Mahomes has already accomplished - two MVPs, multiple Super Bowl appearances, and a level of quarterback play that’s redefined the position for the modern era.
As Durant put it: “He’s still an all-time great. Potentially the greatest of all time.”
Durant’s not alone in that thinking. Mahomes’ numbers back it up.
In Week 13, he tied Russell Wilson for the second-most touchdown passes in a player’s first nine seasons (267). That’s rare air, and it’s a testament to just how consistent Mahomes has been since taking over the starting job in 2018.
But here’s the kicker: for all the gaudy stats and highlight-reel throws, the Chiefs are now staring down the possibility of missing the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. That’s not just a blip - it’s a gut check for a franchise that’s grown accustomed to January football.
And it doesn’t get any easier from here.
Week 14 brings a must-win showdown against the red-hot Houston Texans. At 7-5, the Texans have rattled off four straight wins and are one of the surprise stories of the season.
But it’s not just their offense that’s making noise - it’s their defense. Houston leads the league in total defense, allowing just 265.7 yards and 16.5 points per game.
That’s a tall order for any quarterback, even one as gifted as Mahomes.
Sunday night is shaping up to be a defining moment. Not for Mahomes’ legacy - that’s already cemented.
But for this 2025 Chiefs team, which is still searching for consistency, cohesion, and a way to turn talent into wins. They’ve got the quarterback.
The question now is whether the rest of the roster can rise to the moment.
Because the margin for error? It’s officially gone.