The Kansas City Chiefs find themselves in unfamiliar territory as they navigate what could be a season-defining December stretch. At 6-6 following their heartbreaking 31-28 Thanksgiving loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the defending AFC champions are clinging to their postseason hopes with five games remaining on the schedule.
The situation is dire. Sitting in 10th place in the AFC playoff picture, the Chiefs would need to win all five remaining games and still likely require help from other teams to sneak into the postseason. It’s a stunning turn of events for a franchise that has made nine consecutive playoff appearances and won five AFC titles in six years.
Despite the grim reality, the mood inside the building remains defiant. Head Coach Andy Reid emphasized that the team remains just one or two plays away from a completely different narrative. “You look at our season, we’re one or two plays off, and we take care of that — whether it’s a penalty at a crucial time, a possible turnover somewhere, or having a chance to create a turnover — we are right in position where if we can figure out those two, three plays, you flip this around,” Reid explained to reporters this week.
Travis Kelce echoed that sentiment with brutal honesty about the team’s offensive struggles. “We’re managing to hold teams back at key moments, but we’re just not scoring enough,” Kelce said. “It’s tough to be in this situation right now at 6-6, fighting for our playoff lives. What’s real is that we still have a chance, and that’s what matters to me.”
The injury situation adds another layer of complexity. First-round pick Josh Simmons underwent surgery on his fractured and dislocated wrist and landed on injured reserve, forcing rookie Wanya Morris to step in at left tackle. Add in concerns about Jawaan Taylor’s triceps injury and Trey Smith’s ankle trouble, and the offensive line is suddenly a major question mark heading into a Sunday night matchup against the Houston Texans.
This is uncharted territory for Patrick Mahomes and company, who have never been in a 6-6 hole this late in a season together. But as Mahomes reminded everyone, “The ship’s not sinking or anything. We’re still right where we need to be.”
The message is clear: December is for champions, and the Chiefs are determined to remind everyone why they’ve earned that title.