The Chiefs, who last failed to reach the playoffs in 2014, fell to 6-8 with the home defeat, their third loss in a row and fifth in six games.
Together with victories by the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars the Chiefs were ensured of missing out on the playoffs after an epic run.
“The guys are down,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “They busted their butt to win the game and I wouldn’t expect anything less. So, you know, it’s not a great feeling.”
The Chiefs have played in five of the past six Super Bowls, winning the 2020, 2023 and 2024 editions of the championship spectacle while losing in 2021 to Tampa Bay and earlier this year to Philadelphia.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player whose directed the Chiefs in their dynasty years, was knocked out of the game with a left knee injury with 1:53 remaining.
Mahomes was helped to the locker room as backup Gardner Minshew threw a final interception to seal Kansas City’s fate.
“We’ll get an MRI tomorrow or this evening, whenever they get him in there,” Reid said of Mahomes. “I don’t know (the extent of the injury), but I mean, it doesn’t look good. We’ll just see where it goes.”
The Chiefs had already been eliminated from AFC West division title contention and were chasing a wildcard playoff spot until the latest defeat left them too far behind their rivals to make up the difference in the final weeks of the campaign.
“All in all, we came up short on both sides of the ball and special teams,” Reid said. “We had a few mistakes and that ends up costing you against a good football team. I appreciate the effort of the guys and stepping up, playing hard and aggressive.”
Reid noted the Chiefs have been battling injuries all season.
“Some positions were backup guys to backup guys, and they battled their tail off, so that’s appreciated,” Reid said. “With that, we’ve got to do better, you know, get opportunities in the red zone. For field position, you have got to take advantage of that.” (AFP)