Mahomes, who took five sacks and was hit throughout the day, left the game in the final two minutes afteraggravating his knee injury.Gardner Minshewtook over behind center, but his interception in the final seconds of the comeback bid sealed Kansas City's fate.
The 10-season streak of reaching the playoffs was the second-longest stretch in league history – behind only theNew England Patriots(2009-19) – and longest active run in the NFL, with the Bills the next closest at six years.
At 6-8, the Chiefs already have their most losses since 2012, their last losing campaign (2-14).
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is attended to by team medical staff following an injury during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. on Dec 14, 2025.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
Kansas City Chiefs and Chargers players take a knee following an injury to quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. on Dec 14, 2025.
(Denny Medley, Imagn Images)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is attended to by team medical staff following an injury during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium as Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, second from right, watches.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is attended to by team medical staff following an injury during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium as Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, second from right, stands on the sideline.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Troy Dye (43) sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) during the first quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. on Dec 14, 2025..
(Denny Medley, Imagn Images)
Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (8) rushes against Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill (23) during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Odafe Oweh (98) sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid reacts to a play against the Los Angeles Chargers during the third quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. on Dec 14, 2025..
(Denny Medley, Imagn Images)
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh breaks up a confrontation between safety Tony Jefferson (23) and the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Jefferson was subsequently ejected.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (8) intercepts a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt (29) during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
(Denny Medley, Imagn Images)
Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Cam Hart (20) breaks up a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (80) during the second quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
(Denny Medley, Imagn Images)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) passes against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) falls to the ground after being tackled against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. (3) celebrates with cornerback Donte Jackson (26) and linebacker Daiyan Henley (0) following an interception against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, left, and Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh shake hands following a Chargers victory at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) talks with Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. (3) following a Chargers victory at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
1/16
Kansas City Chiefs' playoff chances end with Patrick Mahomes injury
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is attended to by team medical staff following an injury during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. on Dec 14, 2025.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
1/16
Kansas City Chiefs' playoff chances end with Patrick Mahomes injury
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is attended to by team medical staff following an injury during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. on Dec 14, 2025.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
2/16
Kansas City Chiefs' playoff chances end with Patrick Mahomes injury
Kansas City Chiefs and Chargers players take a knee following an injury to quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. on Dec 14, 2025.
(Denny Medley, Imagn Images)
3/16
Kansas City Chiefs' playoff chances end with Patrick Mahomes injury
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is attended to by team medical staff following an injury during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium as Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, second from right, watches.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
4/16
Kansas City Chiefs' playoff chances end with Patrick Mahomes injury
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is attended to by team medical staff following an injury during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium as Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, second from right, stands on the sideline.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
5/16
Kansas City Chiefs' playoff chances end with Patrick Mahomes injury
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Troy Dye (43) sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) during the first quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. on Dec 14, 2025..
(Denny Medley, Imagn Images)
6/16
Kansas City Chiefs' playoff chances end with Patrick Mahomes injury
Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (8) rushes against Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill (23) during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
7/16
Kansas City Chiefs' playoff chances end with Patrick Mahomes injury
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Odafe Oweh (98) sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
8/16
Kansas City Chiefs' playoff chances end with Patrick Mahomes injury
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid reacts to a play against the Los Angeles Chargers during the third quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. on Dec 14, 2025..
(Denny Medley, Imagn Images)
9/16
Kansas City Chiefs' playoff chances end with Patrick Mahomes injury
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh breaks up a confrontation between safety Tony Jefferson (23) and the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Jefferson was subsequently ejected.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
10/16
Kansas City Chiefs' playoff chances end with Patrick Mahomes injury
Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (8) intercepts a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt (29) during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
(Denny Medley, Imagn Images)
11/16
Kansas City Chiefs' playoff chances end with Patrick Mahomes injury
Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Cam Hart (20) breaks up a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (80) during the second quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
(Denny Medley, Imagn Images)
12/16
Kansas City Chiefs' playoff chances end with Patrick Mahomes injury
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) passes against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
13/16
Kansas City Chiefs' playoff chances end with Patrick Mahomes injury
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) falls to the ground after being tackled against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
14/16
Kansas City Chiefs' playoff chances end with Patrick Mahomes injury
Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. (3) celebrates with cornerback Donte Jackson (26) and linebacker Daiyan Henley (0) following an interception against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
15/16
Kansas City Chiefs' playoff chances end with Patrick Mahomes injury
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, left, and Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh shake hands following a Chargers victory at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
16/16
Kansas City Chiefs' playoff chances end with Patrick Mahomes injury
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) talks with Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. (3) following a Chargers victory at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)
Mahomes, Reid and other members of the team's core had hoped to bounce back from the Super Bowl 59 dismantling by thePhiladelphia Eaglesthis fall by re-establishing their place atop the AFC, having claimed the conference crown in five of the last six seasons. Instead, Kansas City quickly saw its season go sideways with an 0-2 start.
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The Chiefs managed to regroup and reach 5-3, but the team has now lost five of its last six contests after Sunday's defeat against the Chargers.
Along the way, Kansas City saw an abrupt shift in its fortunes in tight contests. After their record 12-0 run in one-score games through the end of last season, the Chiefs are now 1-7 in such contests this year.
Last week's loss to the Texans not only ended the Chiefs' nine-year reign over the AFC West but also dealt a significant blow to the team's playoff hopes, with previous defeats to the Jaguars and Bills leaving Kansas City in a vulnerable place for any potential tiebreaker scenarios.
Yet Reid didn't waver even as the odds became stacked against him.
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"Listen, it's never over, so you keep battling," Reid said after the loss to the Texans. "I've been doing this a long time. I've seen some things, so you keep going."
