As the Kansas City Chiefs limp toward a Thanksgiving showdown with the Dallas Cowboys in two weeks, their presence on the holiday slate might not ruin the turkey for Cowboys fans after all.
Once the unquestioned powerhouse of the AFC, the Chiefs now sit at a middling 5-5 record, looking nothing like the offensive juggernaut they used to be.
Their aura of inevitability has vanished, replaced by inconsistency, injuries, and a growing belief around the league that Kansas City is no longer the team to fear.
With Indianapolis looming this Sunday followed by the Cowboys on a short week, the Chiefs find themselves searching for answers during what has become one of the most turbulent seasons of the Patrick Mahomes era.
Other Contenders Have Risen
For years, the Chiefs spent their time towering above the AFC landscape. Now, they’re the ones being trampled.
Not only have they been outplayed by their own division rivals, (Denver and Los Angeles) but the rest of the AFC has surged forward, leaving Kansas City scrambling just to keep pace.
The Chiefs have already taken losses to the Chargers (7-4), Jaguars (6-4), Bills (7-3), and Broncos (9-2), signaling a collapse in games they’ve historically controlled.
Even worse, the schedule ahead offers no comfort.
They still face all three AFC West opponents once more, plus an Indianapolis squad fighting for a Wild Card spot, and of course, the Cowboys on Thanksgiving.
Lurking above everyone sits New England at 9-2, not on the schedule but very much in the Chiefs’ way when it comes to conference seeding.
If the football continues to bounce against them, as it has all season, Kansas City could find itself watching the playoffs from home for the first time since Mahomes became the starter.
The rise of others hasn’t just pressured them; it has exposed all the cracks they managed to plaster over during their dominant run.
Where is the Magic?
The term “Mahomes Magic” once felt synonymous with inevitability.
No lead was safe, no deficit too large, no throw too difficult, but this year, the magic isn’t so magical.
Mahomes hasn’t played like his usual MVP self, and while he shoulders some responsibility, the supporting cast around him has crumbled.
Travis Kelce, the heartbeat of the offense for nearly a decade, finally looks human. At 35, he no longer overwhelms defensive backs with the same burst, separation, or late-game takeover ability.
Outside of Rashee Rice, the receiver room has offered little relief, an unfortunate mix of inconsistency, lack of speed, and an absence of a true WR1.
The running game has also sputtered.
Isaiah Pacheco has battled injuries, limiting his trademark explosiveness, and Kareem Hunt has not provided the punch expected of him upon his return.
Without dependable weapons, Mahomes has been forced to do too much, and even he can’t elevate this version of the offense to elite status.
Can’t Win Close Games
Perhaps the most shocking development of the Chiefs’ downfall is their inability to win close games.
They are 0-5 in one-score contests, a staggering statistic for a team that built a dynasty on late-game brilliance.
Andy Reid’s situational mastery and Mahomes’ clutch heroics have been the backbone of Kansas City football for years, but something is off in 2025.
Whether it’s execution, confidence, chemistry, or simply bad luck, the Chiefs have repeatedly come up short in moments where they used to shine brightest.
Something is in the water in Kansas City, and while we may never uncover the true cause, the conclusion is unavoidable: the Chiefs are no longer the class of the AFC.
Their fall from grace has been slow, then sudden, and unless they right the ship fast, this season may mark the end of an era.
a Dallas Cowboys fan, since the 70’s the Cowboys don’t have the talent to beat the Kansas City Chiefs