This has not happened in a decade.
Andy Reid was in the second of his 13 years at the helm of the Kansas City Chiefs the last time his team faced the serious possibility of missing the playoffs. His Chiefs have won their division every year since 2016 and only missed the playoffs once since 2012. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has never done anything but win the AFC West Division and guide his team to the Super Bowl in five of the most recent six seasons, winning three Vince Lombardi Trophies.
Yet, the reign of the Chiefs may be over.
There were signs of a crack in the armor last year when they won so many close games, some by the slimmest of margins where luck seemed to be on their side. The run for a record third straight Super Bowl victory was throttled by the Philadelphia Eagles last February, 40-22, in a game not as close as the final score.
This season, the Chiefs dropped their first two games versus the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil and in second week action at home against the same Eagles team that downed them in Super Bowl LIX.
Then, with the football world ready to write off the defending AFC Conference Champions, they hit their stride and won five of their next six games to carry a favorite role into Buffalo three weeks ago when they met their longtime primary AFC rivals, the Bills. Buffalo got the win, their fifth straight in the regular season against the Chiefs but knew the bigger prize would be decided in January. That is where Maholmes and company have shined, having downed the Bills in the playoffs four straight times.
Now, that seemingly inevitable postseason matchup between the Bills and Chiefs seems unlikely. The Chiefs dominance in must win games came to a halt last Sunday in Denver against their division rival Broncos. Of course, the Chiefs were favored in the Mile High City against a Denver team that had a better regular season record. They were favored because they are the Chiefs, and for a decade we had seen them win games they needed as both favorites and underdogs.
Not this time.
The loss last Sunday in Denver dropped the Chiefs season record to five wins and five losses, they are chasing both the Broncos and Chargers in their division and those two teams both have won their first head-to-head meeting against Kansas City.
Turn out the lights on the Chiefs?
Well, before we do that, do we really want to bet on the Chiefs dropping to a losing record?
This week, they are playing the team tied for the fewest losses in the AFC, the Indianapolis Colts. Again, just like last Sunday, Mahomes and his men are favored over a team with a better record. But this time, the game is not on the road, but in the friendly confines of Arrowhead Stadium.
Will the Chiefs rise from a year that has begun with as many losses as wins and again earn a playoff spot? Or is the magic for the team in red bled out?
What a great test to find that out this week against the talented Colts.
How will the Chiefs respond to unfamiliar territory?
I think they have met their match, and the Colts will mentally prepare for playing the Chiefs of years gone by. Instead, they will get this year's Kansas City team and end speculation on the direction of Reid's team by downing the reigning conference champions in front of their hometown fans.
Qoxhi Picks: Indianapolis Colts (+3) over Kansas City Chiefs