Yes, we are spoiled as Kansas City Chiefs fans. We expect perfection, and honestly, we want the regular season to matter. However, after the Bills defeated the Chiefs 28-21 on Sunday, it seems this team is falling into a trap that could ultimately lead to an early playoff exit.
Having the greatest NFL player on the planet is both a blessing and a curse. The Chiefs drafted Patrick Mahomes in 2017 to turn their luck around. He’s done exactly that, with three Super Bowl wins in five appearances. This season, he’s already experienced four losses under his leadership.
In losses to the Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Buffalo Bills, had he made a single play differently in each game, Kansas City would be undefeated.
However, it’s not his fault. The Chiefs rely solely on Mahomes to win games when their offense struggles, and the defense can’t get their opponents off the field.
Despite solid numbers, Mahomes is suffering because his defense lacks linebackers who can cover tight ends or create enough space for other defenders to allow Chris Jones to make an impact.
The coaching staff, the main culprit, puts a lot of pressure on Mahomes to be perfect, especially when he’s up against teams that treat their game against Kansas City as their Super Bowl.
The main issue is that the Chiefs haven’t improved their performance in those games, and as a result, Kansas City is 5-4 entering its bye week. It’s frustrating for the fans, and although some don’t focus on the record or the tough stretch of games ahead, the losses are accumulating.
Currently, the Chiefs are out of the playoffs, and if they lose one or two more games, they may miss the postseason entirely. In their division, the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers, despite their numerous flaws, continue to win close games. The Chiefs keep losing those games.
Eventually, the math doesn’t add up for the Chiefs.
In 2019, the Chiefs also started with a 5-4 record before winning all their remaining games to win Super Bowl LIV. The AFC landscape in 2025 is quite similar. There are some strong teams ahead of the Chiefs, but no team stands out as truly exceptional.
So, yes, the Chiefs, who face most of those teams, can close the gap, but if they’re always chasing the math, the road to the Super Bowl will include a tough stretch of three away games. If they can get through that challenge, they’ll do it the hard way.
Now I have my doubts they can succeed, even though this is the most talented team the Chiefs have assembled for Mahomes. That makes me think the losses are more due to coaching issues than anything else.
Despite his mastery, Andy Reid is a Hall of Fame coach, but sometimes he’s blind to what’s right in front of him. The team has needed a game-changing running back since Jamaal Charles left. Isiah Pacheco isn’t the answer, nor is Kareem Hunt. Now Hunt can handle a bigger workload, but he lacks the speed to break off long runs.
Seventh-round draft pick Brashard Smith has the talent, speed, and skills to be a starting back, but the Chiefs don’t trust him enough in the offense to give him a bigger role.
As I mentioned Sunday night, the trade deadline is Tuesday, and the Chiefs have been rumored to be interested in New York Jets Running Back Breece Hall. If they make that deal, KC’s offense could see a big boost after their bye week.
If General Manager Brett Veach fails to address the running back and pass rusher positions, they’ll continue to depend solely on Mahomes to lead the team back to the promised land.
In each loss, the Chiefs have lost the point of attack and faced breakdowns on the offensive line, which has been the one aspect this team can’t overcome. Adding to the problems when the line breaks down is the uncertainty of whether Josh Simmons will return to the Chiefs this season.
Additionally, what shape will Simmons be in, and can he regain his starting spot this season? With Jaylon Moore struggling for the second week in a row, this team needs to get Simmons back on the field.
Now that I’ve gotten all that off my chest! I do believe the Chiefs are still one of the best teams in the AFC, but they need to start acting like it before it’s too late.
