The Kansas City Chiefs are likely to miss the playoffs for the first time in star quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ career even if the team wins out the remainder of the schedule.
At 6-7, the Chiefs currently possess the 10th seed in the American Football Conference playoff bracket, and their playoff chances sit at just 11.4 percent.
The biggest difference between this Chiefs team and Chiefs teams in the past is their success in one-score games. The team is 1-6 this year, but it has been a strength for them prior to this year. Last season, Kansas City won all 11 games of that variety en route to a 15-2 record and Super Bowl appearance.
The offensive line was rebuilt after trading away legendary guard Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears and has dealt with injuries, another key difference that has affected the team’s play.
Mahomes described the team’s situation as unprecedented, but they have the guys to overcome the adversity.
“With no margin for error, the Chiefs enter Sunday's game hoping to keep their playoff hopes alive -- at least for another week,” ESPN’s Nate Taylor wrote Friday. “‘We're in unprecedented territory,’ said QB Patrick Mahomes, who has never missed the playoffs in his nine-year career. ‘I think you lean on the guys that have battled through adversity and came out better on the other side. That's [DT] Chris [Jones], [TE] Travis [Kelce], all of these guys that have won championships. It hasn't always been pretty, but it'll really test us to see what type of character we have. I think we got the guys in the room to do it.’”
On offense, the Chiefs are second in the National Football League with 24 drops despite all the talent in the receiving room and tight end room. In the Chiefs’ most recent loss to the Houston Texans last week, the team had six drops, including one from star tight end Travis Kelce that resulted in the game-clinching interception late in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, the Chiefs haven’t gotten enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks. They played with extra energy against the Texans and made QB C.J. Stroud’s life difficult, but not difficult enough to secure a victory.
The Chiefs will look to keep their playoff hopes alive with a win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15. According to ESPN Analytics, “The Chargers' playoff chances (which stand at 78.1%) would increase to 92.9% with a win and move to 70.5% with a loss. A win would only increase the Chiefs' playoff chances from 11.4% to 17.2%.”