DEVASTATING

BY MIKE RIFKIN

The Kansas City Chiefs must have made Santa’s naughty list, because Sunday was an awful day for the franchise. First, the team lost to the Chargers by a score of 16-13 and with that and other results not going their way the Chiefs have been eliminated from playoff contention, the first time they have missed the playoffs in a decade. The Chiefs have represented the AFC in five of the last six Super Bowls. But to make matters worse late in the game, Patrick Mahomes got tackled and immediately grabbed his knee and had to be helped off the field. Sunday night it was confirmed that Mahomes tore his ACL and is done for the season, and we’ll have to see what happens as to what comes next season for the Chiefs?

2024 the Chiefs won every close game imaginable, they didn’t have that same luck this season. And now with Mahomes out and the Chiefs season being over, can we just take a minute to appreciate the special run this team went on. 10 consecutive trips to the Playoffs, five Super Bowl appearances, and three Super Bowl wins. This run has solidified the resumes of Andy Reid, Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, and Steve Spagnuolo as Hall Of Famers. 

So, now that the Chiefs are eliminated what will come next? Let’s be honest they really can’t run it back again, this team had a lot of flaws and Mahomes’ magic was able to disguise a lot of it. But first thing they have to do is they cannot rush Mahomes back. Allow him to take his time in recovery and make sure he is 100% when ready to return. Next would be what happens with Travis Kelce? Is he retiring or coming back? Kelce has not had the best season of his Hall Of Fame career, Kelce will be 37 during next season, would he want to go through another season? 

One thing GM Brett Veach will have to do is create cap space, as the Chiefs right now are in the negative. Sunday was a devastating day for the Chiefs franchise, but Mahomes will be back and when he returns the Chiefs will be a team in the conversation again. But this offseason might be a wakeup call and time for some things to change.