When Patrick Mahomes stepped off the field at AT&T Stadium on Thanksgiving night, the weight of a season slipping away was clear in his voice. The Kansas City Chiefs lost 31-28 to the Dallas Cowboys on November 28, 2024, dropping their record to 6-6 and sending shockwaves through a franchise that hasn’t missed the playoffs since 2014. Mahomes, 28, didn’t sugarcoat it: "You’ve got to win every game now—and hope that’s enough." It wasn’t frustration. It was a cold, hard calculus. One loss. Five games left. No margin for error.

The Stakes Have Never Been Higher

For nearly a decade, the Kansas City Chiefs have been the NFL’s model of consistency. Under Andy Reid, the 66-year-old head coach who’s led the team since 2013, they’ve made the playoffs every year—nine straight seasons. Three Super Bowl appearances. Two titles. But this year? Everything’s different. The Chiefs are now ninth in the AFC, barely clinging to a playoff spot. ESPN’s Football Power Index gives them just a 55.4% chance of making the postseason. That’s not a glitch. That’s a crisis.

What makes this sting more is how they lost. Mahomes threw four touchdowns, moved the ball efficiently, and ran for 30 yards. He was brilliant. But the defense—led by coordinator Steve Spagnuolo—couldn’t get off the field. The Cowboys’ offense, led by Dak Prescott, methodically chewed clock and scored when it mattered. The final drive? 12 plays. 7:34 off the clock. No stops. No pressure. Just silence in the Chiefs’ locker room after the final whistle.

The Road Ahead: Five Games, Zero Room for Error

The Chiefs’ schedule doesn’t soften. It hardens. Their final five games include three against teams with winning records:

• Week 14 (Dec. 8): Houston Texans (6-5) — the NFL’s second-best scoring defense (16.5 points per game)
• Week 15 (Dec. 15): Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) — playoff-caliber offense and defense
• Week 16 (Dec. 22): Tennessee Titans (1-10) — the one game they should win
• Week 17 (Dec. 29): Denver Broncos (9-2) — AFC West rivals, playoff-bound and hungry
• Week 18 (Jan. 5): Las Vegas Raiders (2-9) — a potential trap game on the road

According to Arrowhead Pride, winning all five would nearly lock up a playoff berth—just a 1% chance of missing out. But that’s a fantasy. Even a 4-1 finish (10-7) might not be enough. The Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers are both ahead in the standings. And the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills are lurking as wild-card threats. The Chiefs don’t just need to win—they need others to lose. And that’s a gamble no championship team should have to make.

Why This Feels Different

It’s not just the record. It’s the pattern. This is the fifth one-score loss of the season. Five times, Mahomes has delivered. Five times, the team has fallen short. The Chiefs are 0-4 in games decided by three points or fewer. That’s not bad luck. That’s a flaw. A mental one. A coaching one. A depth one.

Remember 2014? That was Reid’s first season in Kansas City. The Chiefs finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs. It was a wake-up call. They drafted Mahomes two years later. Now, history might be repeating. The same doubts are creeping in: Is this team too reliant on one man? Can the defense hold up under pressure? Do they have the grit to close out tight games?

And here’s the twist: Mahomes isn’t the problem. He’s been elite. He’s averaging 315 yards per game and 28 touchdowns this season. But football isn’t a solo sport. It’s a symphony. And right now, the orchestra is off-key.

What Happens If They Miss the Playoffs?

If the Chiefs miss the postseason for the first time in a decade, the fallout will be seismic. Reid’s legacy as a coach is untouchable—but this would be his first missed playoff berth since 2013. Ownership would face questions. Front office decisions would be scrutinized. And Mahomes? He’s locked in through 2031 on his $450 million deal. But even legends need help. The pressure to fix the defense, upgrade the offensive line, and build depth will intensify.

For fans, it’s a nightmare. For a franchise that’s become synonymous with postseason success, a missed playoff run would feel like a betrayal of identity.

What’s Next?

The Chiefs return to Arrowhead Stadium next week for a critical matchup against the Houston Texans. That game isn’t just about points—it’s about proving they still have the will to fight. The players know it. The coaches know it. And Mahomes? He’s already locked in.

"We’re going to play a lot of good football teams," he said. "If we’re going to make the playoffs, we’re going to have to win them all. That’s got to be the mindset."

That’s not a quote. That’s a declaration.