The Kansas City Chiefs dominated the AFC for a considerable time and made several trips to the Super Bowl. However, after a challenging season, the Chiefs now find themselves in unfamiliar circumstances. The team lost to the Los Angeles Chargers this afternoon, 16-13, and has been eliminated from the playoff race.
The Kansas City Chiefs Officially Eliminated From Playoff Contention
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who took five sacks and was hit throughout the game, left in the final two minutes after aggravating his knee injury. Backup Gardner Minshew II came in behind center for Kansas City. However, his game-sealing interception dashed the Chiefs’ playoff hopes.
The Chiefs were officially eliminated from playoff contention due to their loss, combined with wins by teams like the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars this afternoon.
The last time the Chiefs were absent from the postseason was 2014, when Patrick Mahomes was still at Texas Tech. With the Chiefs out of playoff contention, the AFC conference is up for grabs. The NFL world has some reactions to the Chiefs being eliminated from playoff contention.
NFL World Reacts to the Chiefs Missing Playoffs
The NFL community had a wide range of reactions to Kansas City missing out on playoff opportunities this season. National NFL reporter for NFL Network, Cameron Wolfe, said, “Chiefs eliminated from playoffs in Week 15 before Christmas. 1st time KC misses playoffs since 2014. Patrick Mahomes helped into locker room with a knee injury. Wow. A dynasty in peril.”
Mike Greenberg put things bluntly when he said, “All good things come to an end. The Chiefs are out. A moment of respect for one of the greatest ten-year runs in NFL history.” According to PFSN’s offense metrics, the Chiefs rank 10th behind the San Francisco 49ers with an 80.6 grade.
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“Chiefs eliminated from the playoffs for the first time in 11 seasons. That’s an incredible run,” wrote NFL legend Richard Sherman on X. “To go to the SB 5 of the last 6 seasons is incredible. So many teams struggle to find motivation and consistency after an SB win or loss, and for them to sustain the way they have for this long should be respected. Hope Mahomes is ok after a scary injury near the end of the game.”
This is how the Chiefs dynasty ends: Patrick Mahomes limping to the back passing by all the Chiefs’ modern accomplishments. #LACvsKC pic.twitter.com/EyafWxP28V
— Mushroom Can’t Suck Right @ holiday mode (@ShroomMeister) December 14, 2025
“The Chiefs have been eliminated while Patrick Mahomes was in the locker room with a knee injury,” wrote NFL insider James Palmer on X. “Just a crushing Sunday in Kansas City.”
They rank 11th on defense per PFSN’s defense metrics with a 79.1 grade. The 10-season streak of making the playoffs was the second-longest streak in NFL history, behind only the New England Patriots’ 11-season run (2009-2019). Now, at 6-8, the Chiefs have their most losses since 2012. In that year, their record was 2-14.
Kansas City attempted to bounce back from the Super Bowl 59 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles by reestablishing itself as a dominant NFL football team. Unfortunately, they failed in doing so.
The Chiefs’ season quickly took a turn for the worse with a 0-2 start. However, the team did find some spark and reached 5-3, but Kansas City has now lost five of its last six games after Sunday’s loss against the divisional rival Chargers.
The Chiefs will have a lot to reflect on now that they will face another long offseason, similar to the one they experienced since 2014, when they missed the playoffs entirely and suffered their Super Bowl loss to the Eagles last season. The AFC will crown a new champion after the Chiefs’ three consecutive Super Bowl trips.
