Chiefs' Playoff Chances Take Troubling Turn After 'Monday Night Football'
The Kansas City Chiefs ’ fate changed after the result of the “Monday Night Football” matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Philadelphia Eagles . On Sunday, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs fell to the Houston Texans , 20-10, dropping their record to 6-7. That was Kansas City ’s second straight loss, and it delivered a significant blow to its playoff chances with four games remaining on the schedule.
The Chargers, who are currently above the Chiefs in the AFC West, secured a hard-fought overtime victory against the defending champions on Monday, 22-19. This development significantly impacted Kansas City’s already grim playoff chances.
After Sunday’s tough loss to Houston, the Chiefs’ playoff chances dropped from 35% to just 11% . This only meant that Mahomes and Co. would need to win all four of their remaining games and hope that the results of other AFC games fall in their favor.
This was not the case for Kansas City on Monday after the Chargers secured a crucial win over the Eagles . L.A. improved to 9-4, making the Chiefs’ path to a playoff spot even more improbable. These two teams face off on Sunday, and there is a scenario wherein Kansas City will be eliminated from postseason contention with a loss.
However, assuming the Chiefs beat the Chargers on Sunday, L.A. will need to lose at least two out of its last three games, including Week 18 against the 11-2 Denver Broncos , in order to give Kansas City a chance, according to Pete Sweeney of The Kansas City Star . On top of that, the Indianapolis Colts also need to lose at least two out of their last four games.
Simply put, the Chargers' victory against the Eagles on Monday night is bad news for the Chiefs' playoff hopes.
At this point, the odds are significantly stacked against the Chiefs. Their playoff hopes are now out of their hands, and they have no other choice but to try to control what they can. Mahomes and Co. will need to take it one game at a time, starting with a potentially season-defining matchup against the Chargers on Sunday.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 9, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
