Season ends in heartbreak. Mahomes' ACL tear sidelines star QB, extinguishing playoff hopes and marking a dismal end to Kansas City's campaign.
Sunday’s 16-13 loss was one of the worst days in recent memory for the Kansas City Chiefs. Not only did they become eliminated from the playoffs for the first time since 2014, but quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL in the process.
With just under two minutes to go, the Chiefs were desperately trying to score to save their season and keep hopes of a late-season miracle to keep their postseason streak alive. Mahomes flushed out to his right before throwing the ball out of bounds. As he did this, the former MVP was brought down from behind by a Los Angeles Chargers defender, resulting in Mahomes hyperextending his left knee, which ultimately tore his ACL.
Immediately, it was obvious what had happened, and the heartbreak was enough to silence every fan in attendance at Arrowhead Stadium. With the 2025 season now officially over for Kansas City and Mahomes needing to recover from his new injury, the outlook for the Chiefs is as dark as it could get.
Mahomes was under center for almost the entire game for the Chiefs before being hurt in the final minutes. Even when he was slinging the ball for the Chiefs on Sunday, he wasn’t having one of his greatest games. He threw for 189 yards and one interception against the Chargers' secondary, only enough for a QBR of 58.8. He was given a ‘D’ grade for his Week 15 outing by Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report.
“Patrick Mahomes gave everything he could until he couldn't go any longer,” Sobleski wrote. “With the Chiefs set to miss the playoffs for the first time since the 2014 campaign, the streak of nine straight division titles and Mahomes' season came crashing down at the same time.”
It’s indicative of a season that hasn’t been the greatest for Mahomes. Of course, Mahomes is always held to higher standards because of his generational abilities, but he had one of his most forgettable seasons to date in 2025. His season concludes with the lowest completion percentage and the second-lowest yards per game of his career.
While he may not have been playing quite up to his MVP levels, Mahomes was still a rare bright spot for the Chiefs this season. Despite a collapsing offense that faced injuries, suspensions, and lacked game changers, Mahomes gave Kansas City a chance. Now, without Mahomes for the foreseeable future, it’s hard to imagine the Chiefs having any chance at success at all. Football fans can only hope for a successful and quick rehabilitation for Mahomes.