We are possibly witnessing the end of the Kansas City Chiefs dynasty.
Sunday night, Patrick Mahomes and his gang lost 20 to 10 against the Houston Texans. As a result, they now have a negative record of 6-7.
According to the NFL website, the chances of the Chiefs making the playoffs are only 15%.
Kansas City hasn’t missed the playoff phase since the 2014 campaign. Since Mahomes led the offense in 2018, the Missouri club has reached the American final every year, appeared in the Super Bowl five times and won the Vince Lombardi Trophy three times.
Faces were very long in the Chiefs locker room after the loss to the Texans, but the team’s leaders aren’t ready to throw in the towel.
“We are 6-7. We have four games left. We can finish the season at 10-7 and we can have a chance to make the playoffs if everything falls in our favor,” said defensive tackle Chris Jones.
“For us, the door is still open. It’s maybe only a 10% chance. Maybe a 5% chance. But as long as we have an opportunity and a possibility, we can control that and let things unfold the way they should unfold,” added the 31-year-old veteran.
One of Mahomes’ worst games
Against the Texans, the Chiefs pivot was not a shadow of the player who earned the NFL MVP titles in 2018 and 2022.
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Mahomes completed just 14 of 33 passes he attempted for 160 yards. He didn’t throw a touchdown pass and was the victim of three interceptions. His pass completion percentage of 42.4% is a career high for mediocrity.
“We arrive late in the season. We will not find these opportunities again, emphasized the quarterback after the game. They’re a good football team, but we had opportunities and we didn’t execute at the right time to win.”
Reid takes the blame
For his part, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid tried to take the heat off his footballers by taking responsibility for the defeat.
The 67-year-old made a choice in the fourth quarter, when the score was 10-10. With a fourth down situation and a yard to go at their 31-yard line, he decided to keep the offense on the field.
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His players were unable to get the first down and the Texans then took advantage of their advantageous positioning on the field to score a touchdown.
“On offense, I put the guys in a difficult position with the calls on fourth downs,” Reid said. I tried to stay aggressive. I take full responsibility for it. I thought we could get it. It’s important to take advantage of opportunities. In hindsight, it was a mistake. I screwed that one up.”
Prior to Sunday’s matchup, the Chiefs led the NFL in conversion rate on fourth downs with 21 completions on 26 attempts.
It was also the first time in his illustrious career that Reid attempted to convert a fourth down when the score was tied in the fourth quarter or overtime and his offense was installed behind his 40-yard line.
To make the playoffs, the Chiefs (6-7) will have to beat the Chargers (8-4), Titans (2-11), Broncos (11-2) and Raiders (2-11). The Texans (8-5) and the Colts (8-5) will also have to lose several of their duels between now and the end of the regular season.
“It’s never over, so you have to keep fighting. I’ve been doing this for a long time. I’ve seen things, so you keep moving forward,” said Reid, who is currently living his 27th year.e season as head coach in the NFL.
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