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[Kansas City Chiefs]

4 things the Chiefs must do before the season ends

The Kansas City Chiefs were widely expected to field a better team this season than they did in 2024, when they turned in the best record in franchise history — and then became the first team to ever return to the Super Bowl after winning the previous two.

But now the team is 6-6 after losing three of their last four games — all of them by a single score.

1. Win the next five games​

These matchups will be against the (7-5) Houston Texans, (8-4) Los Angeles Chargers, (1-11) Tennessee Titans, (10-2) Denver Broncos and (2-10) Las Vegas Raiders.

Here’s the good news: all three contests against postseason contenders will be played on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, where the team is 5-1 in 2025 — and hasn’t lost a game since recording a 20-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2.

But there’s bad news, too: two of those teams have already defeated Kansas City in 2025 — and the other now owns a four-game winning streak that includes victories over three AFC playoff contenders.

Can they do it?

“[We’re] one or two plays away,” head coach Andy Reid told reporters on Monday. “That’s what this game is. Look at our season: we’re one or two plays off. We’ve got to take care of that — whether it’s a penalty at a crucial time, [a] possible turnover somewhere or having a chance to create a turnover. We’re right in [a] position where if we can figure out those two [or] three plays, [we can] flip this around.”

If the Chiefs can do that, it will take only a few of a dozen or so games going the right way for Kansas City to make the postseason.

2. Get the offensive line healthy before the playoffs​

At the end of Thursday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys, left tackle Josh Simmons, right guard Trey Simmons and right tackle Jawaan Taylor were on the sidelines. We’ve learned from bitter experience what can happen if the Chiefs enter the playoffs without their starters on the offensive line. Making the postseason might mean very little if Kansas City can’t get its big guys back on the field.

“The guys are working to get themselves healthy right now,” said Reid on Monday, “[and] everybody is in the process. Josh is getting a second evaluation on his wrist; we’ll just see what goes from there. Then [the] other guys — Trey and JT — all those guys are improving as we go forward here. We’ll see how they do here the next couple of days.”

In the meantime, the contract that general manager Brett Veach gave reserve tackle Jaylon Moore is looking better and better.

3. Find a way to get some pass rush​

On Thanksgiving, the Chiefs’ pass rush couldn’t bring the Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott to the ground even once — and didn’t even record a single quarterback pressure. In the team’s other three November games, the defense collected five sacks and 27 pressures.

Can you guess which of the opposing teams in those games scored the most points?

Kansas City needs to improve its pass rush. But the unit is clearly capable of getting some pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Somehow, though, Dallas managed to shut it down. That cannot continue.

“You can’t allow quarterbacks at this level to stand back there and throw the ball with just comfortable feet,” noted Reid on Monday. “I think we know that. So, you have got to make sure that you have pressure on those guys — [and] when that takes place you have got to make sure your coverage is tight.”

Adding talent to the defensive line will have to wait. But somehow, Joe Cullen’s unit needs to get its mojo back.

4. Get control of penalties​

There have been games where Kansas City has collected more penalties or been penalized for more yards. But it’s hard to recall a game like the one in Dallas — where so many of the Chiefs’ opportunities were ruined by penalties.

“[The] obvious [problem] is the penalty situation,“ declared Reid in Monday’s opening statement. ”We have got to make sure we take care of business with the penalties — [that we] keep working on the fundamentals and techniques.

“I’m not telling you I agree with all of them — or half of them — but I will tell you that they took place. So we’re not going to use that as any kind of an excuse. We’re going to work on getting better at what we do — and what we can control — [and] then we will take it from there.“

The coach sees no percentage in complaining to the league beyond the token opportunities each team is given after every game.

“You’re never going to agree with everything,” he explained. “You’re not going to do that, so you try to express yourself — and then you move on. There’s nothing you can do. There’s never been a [penalty] call [where] me griping gets [it] changed. You just hope that between the two parties, you can come together and figure out what it is. [One], from a coaching standpoint, what I can tell my guys? And two, maybe it can help an official.

“That’s what I’ve found over the years. That’s probably the best way — and the only way — to get it done.”

Meanwhile, the team needs to play well enough that the officials’ actions become a footnote to each game — rather than the overriding narrative.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...ngs-the-chiefs-must-do-before-the-season-ends

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs host Texans: Week 14 news, injury updates and previews

In Week 14, the (6-6) Kansas City Chiefs will welcome the (7-5) Houston Texans to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri for a pivotal game in the AFC playoff race. It will be a primetime battle on “Sunday Night Football,” kicking off at 7:20 p.m. Arrowhead time.

After losing 31-28 to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day, the Chiefs have backed themselves into a corner with no room for another loss in the battle for a postseason berth. The Texans are alive in the playoff hunt (and the race for an AFC South title) after defeating the Indianapolis Colts 20-16 in Week 13.

Kansas City’s 1-5 record against current playoff teams this season has eliminated all margin for error in the remaining five games. The (10-2) Denver Broncos are two wins away from clinching the AFC West — and the three current AFC Wild Card teams all have two fewer losses than the Chiefs.

Here’s our complete coverage

• What current AFC Wild Card team drops out? Take the ‘Reacts’ survey
• NFL Power Rankings Week 14 Roundup: Chiefs plummet after loss in Dallas
• Can the Chiefs no longer solve their biggest problem?
• Kansas City Chiefs are favorites over Houston Texans in Week 14 odds
• Chiefs Playoff Picture: Missing the postseason is a real possibility

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...s-texans-week-14-news-injury-updates-previews

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Former Chiefs’ safety Tyrann Mathieu teases about a return to the team

Appearing with Kay Adams on her “Up and Adams” show on Tuesday, former Kansas City Chiefs’ safety Tyrann Mathieu — now retired from the New Orleans Saints after starting 17 games for them in 2024 — teased the possibility that he might come back to the league — and Kansas City.

Tyrann Mathieu back to the Chiefs???

HE'S ALL FOR IT.

Brett Veach on line 1.
pic.twitter.com/o0yO23qyua

— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) December 1, 2025

“Can you come back?” asked the FanDuel host, who happened to be interviewing Mathieu at the Chiefs’ facility on the grounds of the Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City.

“I mean, I’m not gonna say no,” replied Mathieu. “I won’t say no.”

“Are we walking down to Brett [Veach’s] office after this?” asked Adams. “I’m not kidding. Are you going to go visit them today? Yes?”

“Yeah, probably,” said Mathieu. “I’ve stayed in contact with — you know, obviously Brett — but mostly Coach Reid. His grandson actually plays on the football team with my son — so it’s a family, you know.”

Adams nodded.

“You have a different tune now than when we talked about this the day after you retired,” she observed, “where you were like, ‘Maybe. Maybe not.’ Why now? Why does it feel like you’re a little different — [that] you feel a little more willing to come back?”

“It’s the fact that, you know, you want to help your friends,” explained the three-time All-Pro. “Like, you want your friends to have, like, a fighting chance.

“I mean, fans hit me up all the time on Twitter — X, you know — and they want me to come back. But mostly, they want me to come back to just provide that energy — that attitude. So I think we’re just missing a little bit of that.”

Is it likely that the 33-year-old Mathieu — who played a key role in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s defense during his three years with the Chiefs — might come back to the team with only weeks remaining in the season? Probably not.

It’s true, however, that his old friends might need some help to have a fighting chance — and he did say “we’re” missing a little bit of the energy he once provided to his Kansas City teammates.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...ty-tyrann-mathieu-teases-about-return-to-team

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Andy Reid: Josh Simmons headed to Reserve/Injured with wrist injury

When he began Wednesday’s press briefing, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid used his opening statement to share some bad news about his rookie left tackle.

“Josh Simmons ended up having surgery on that wrist” said Reid, “for a fracture and a dislocation. He’ll go on to IR — and then we’ll just see about the recovery on that.“

Simmons left Thursday’s 31-28 loss to the Dallas Cowboys with a wrist injury — and after the game, he was observed with his arm in a sling and his wrist in a cast.

Reid expects that Simmons — who recovered from his last season’s patellar tendon injury more rapidly than expected — will be able to bounce back quickly.

“The kid loves to play football,” said Reid of Simmons. “He’s depressed about that part. That’s probably the wrong word; he’s down about that part. But he’s upbeat. I mean, the surgery went well, which was a real positive. So he feels good about that. And then it’s just a matter of coming back. He’s did a great job with his knee coming back. He’s a worker, so whatever he can do to rehab it, he’s going to do. That’s just how he rolls.”

As usual, Reid was noncommittal about the possibility that Simmons could be back for the postseason.

“We’ll see how that goes,” he offered. “I’ve gotta wait just a little bit on that and see how that goes with his recovery — but there’s always that chance.”

In the meantime, it looks like the team will fill Simmons’ vacant roster spot with a tackle from the practice squad.

“Esa Pole, by the way, will take that spot,” noted Reid at the end of his opening statement. “He’ll be the one elevated.”

Reid’s use of the term “elevated” suggested that Pole might be brought up on a game-by-game basis — but that’s not entirely consistent with saying Pole will “take that spot.” So it might be that the team plans to activate Pole to the roster — which would allow him to be available for the four (or more) games Simmons will miss on the Reserve/Injured list. If he’s elevated game-by-game, however, he’d be limited to three appearances on the roster.

UPDATE: Later on Wednesday, the Chiefs used their X account to officially announce adding Simmons to the Reserve/Injured list and activating Pole to the 53-man roster. The team also announced that it had filled Pole’s previous spot by signing former Cowboys tackle Matt Waletzko to the practice squad. The 6-foot-8, 305-pound Waletzko was a fifth-round pick in 2022. Over three seasons in Dallas, he appeared in 11 games. He worked out with the Chiefs on Monday.

However it happens, though, Pole will be in a depth role. If right tackle Jawaan Taylor continues to miss time (according to Reid, Taylor and right guard Trey Smith were both being held out of Wednesday’s practice), Reid indicated that Wayna Morris would “probably” play in Simmons’ place at left tackle, while Jaylon Moore would fill in for Taylor on the right.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...s-headed-to-reserve-injured-with-wrist-injury

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs-Texans Wednesday injury report: 4 players missing

Each practice day of the season, the Kansas City Chiefs release an official injury report leading up to the next game. In the NFL’s Week 14, Kansas City will host the Houston Texans on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium for “Sunday Night Football.” Kickoff is set for 7:20 p.m. Arrowhead Time.

Here is the Chiefs’ first official injury report of the week:

Chiefs​

Player	Ps	Injury	Wed	Thu	Fri	Status
Trey Smith	G	Ankle	DNP	–	–	–
Jawaan Taylor	T	Triceps – Knee	DNP	–	–	–
Chris Roland-Wallace	CB	Back	DNP	–	–	–
Patrick Mahomes	QB	Knee	FP	–	–	–
Isiah Pacheco	RB	Knee	FP	–	–	–
Noah Gray	TE	Concussion – Shoulder	FP	–	–	–
Nikko Remigio	WR	Shoulder	FP	–	–	–
Rashee Rice	WR	Hamstring	FP	–	–	–
George Karlaftis	DE	Thumb	FP	–	–	–
Bryan Cook	S	Ankle	FP	–	–	–
Jaden Hicks	S	Shoulder	FP	–	–	–

Texans​

Player	Ps	Injury	Wed	Thu	Fri	Status
Woody Marks	RB	Ankle	DNP	–	–	–
Trent Brown	OT	Hand	DNP	–	–	–
Denico Autry	DT	Knee	DNP	–	–	–
Tim Settle	DT	Foot	DNP	–	–	–
Will Anderson Jr.	DE	Chest – Shoulder	DNP	–	–	–
Jamal Hill	LB	Hamtring	DNP	–	–	–
Kamari Lassiter	CB	Foot	DNP	–	–	–
Jaylen Reed	SAF	Forearm	DNP	–	–	–
Azeez Al-Shaair	LB	Knee	LP	–	–	–

Some notes​

• For the Chiefs, the biggest news is the absence of left tackle Josh Simmons, who is not shown on the report. The rookie left last Thursday’s game in Dallas with a wrist injury. On Wednesday, we learned that he has had surgery for a fracture and dislocation of his wrist. The team has placed him on the Reserve/Injured list — and since he is not on the roster, he is not shown on the injury report. Under NFL rules, he will miss at least four games.
• As usual, Reid was noncommittal about the possibility that Simmons could be back for the postseason. “We’ll see how that goes,” he said. “I’ve gotta wait just a little bit on that and see how that goes with his recovery — but there’s always that chance.”
• Three other players were held out of practice. Like Simmons, two of them are starting offensive linemen: right guard Trey Smith (ankle) and right tackle Jawaan Taylor (triceps – knee). Smith missed the Thanksgiving game with the ankle injury he suffered against the Indianapolis Colts. Taylor was injured in Dallas.
• The other missing Kansas City player was cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace (back), who was also injured in the victory over the Colts and missed the road game against the Cowboys.
• For the Texans, five starters did not participate in Wednesday’s practice: right tackle Trent Brown (hand), defensive tackle Tim Settle (foot), defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (chest – shoulder), cornerback Kamari Lassiter (foot) and rookie running back Woody Marks (ankle), who took over from Nick Chubb a few weeks ago.
• On Wednesday, head coach DeMeco Ryans said Anderson, Lassiter and Marks are expected to be available for Sunday’s game. “They’ll all be fine,” he told reporters. “We’ll see how the week goes.”
• Three other players did not participate: rotational defensive tackle Denico Autry (knee), special teams linebacker Jamal Hill (hamstring) and special teams safety Jaylen Reed (forearm).
• Autry is dealing with a lingering injury, but will probably be available to play this weekend. Hill missed Week 13; his status for Sunday is unknown. Reid was a defensive starter in Week 13, but suffered a forearm injury that will require surgery.
• Finally, starting outside linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (knee) was a limited participant on Wednesday.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...ans-wednesday-injury-report-4-players-missing

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs see Texans as aggressive and confident on both sides of the ball

The Kansas City Chiefs are clinging to their playoff lives as Week 14’s “Sunday Night Football” matchup with the Houston Texans looms.

The challenge begins with a feared Houston defense that currently leads the league with a -0.18 expected points added (EPA), per Next Gen Stats.

“You’ve got to match their intensity,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes told reporters on Wednesday. “I think that’s the biggest thing. Obviously the D-line’s good. The linebackers are good, and the DBs are good. But I think what makes them who they are is how hard they play. Every single snap they’re flying around and they’re trying to make plays happen. They’re trying to intercept the football. They’re trying to knock the football out. They’re trying to make big hits. So, we’ve got to match that intensity — as an offense and as a team — in order to go out there and get a win.”

Center Creed Humphrey will be lining up against the Texas defense for the third time in a year.

“They play aggressive defense,” he observed. “They’re really sound technically, really sound schematically, and they play very hard. Everybody has a great motor on the defense — so whatever scheme they’re playing that week, they’re doing a great job with it. For us, it’s just about coming out and making sure we match that energy — and bring more — and to show up with the right mindset on Sunday.”

Making things worse, the Chiefs could be facing Houston’s defensive front with multiple backups on the offensive line. Starting left tackle Josh Simmons was placed on the Reserve/Injured list on Wednesday after undergoing wrist surgery. Right guard Trey Smith and right tackle Jawaan Taylor also missed Wednesday’s practice with injuries.

Reid suggested that Mike Caliendo would continue filling in for Smith — and if needed, Wanya Morris and Jaylon Moore are in line at the tackle spots. He noted that Caliendo played well in both of last season’s games against the Texans — and in 2024’s regular-season matchup against Houston, Morris took over at right tackle when Taylor was injured.

Still, the coach knows that it will be a difficult test.

“They did a good job,” recalled Reid of Morris and Calidendo’s performances last season, “so they know what they’re up against. That’s a great defensive front — a great defense. All three levels are really good, and they’re No. 1 in a lot of categories there, defensively. But those guys are getting themselves ready to go.”

Mahomes pushed back a little on a suggestion that under the circumstances, he will have to run the ball more often.

“You’re going to have to utilize everything,” he insisted, “not just my legs. You’ve got to utilize everything you have to go out there and win. This is a really good football team that’s playing really good football right now — and has a really good defense. So we’re going to throw it all out there and try to find a way to win. This will be a big game for us to showcase who we are — and who we think we can be — moving on the rest of the season.”

But the Texans’ defense won’t be the only concern. The Houston squad is riding a four-game winning streak. Three of those wins featured backup quarterback Davis Mills, who was filling in for C.J. Stroud while the starting quarterback was sidelined with a concussion.

“They’re a confident group,” cornerback Trent McDuffie said of the Texans’ offense. “Even when C.J. was out, the offense was still rolling. They’re still doing a lot of good things. I feel it’s one of those offenses that runs what they run. They rely on their strengths. They rely on their playmakers. They just go out there and play fast — and they have a really good defense.

“As a defense, on our part, I feel like we’ve got to outplay their defense — and we’ve got to make sure we go into this game understanding how they’re going to attack us. They played us last year twice, but they’ll definitely have a few new caveats. They’re good — and they’re strong where they’re strong.”

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...l-aggressive-and-confident-in-week-14-matchup

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs know execution must improve at crucial moments against Texans

The Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 14 matchup with the Houston Texans is truly a do-or-die game. In a battle between two playoff hopefuls, the pressure is on Kansas City to avoid a de facto elimination with a seventh loss.

The Chiefs are feeling it from the top down. In recent weeks, head coach Andy Reid has repeatedly pointed out his team’s lack of execution — and did so again in Wednesday’s press briefing

“What we need to do is take care of some of the little things, the penalty things,” he declared. “They take you out of drives, so you’re not scrambling as you go there. You have to clean that up.”

Kansas City has drawn 102 penalty flags this season, the league’s tenth-highest mark.

“[For] some of that,” continued Reid, “we have to give the guys the right plays to try to execute to their strengths. Coaching is part of it — [and] playing is part of it. We all have a piece of that pie.”

As we might expect, quarterback Patrick Mahomes assumes more than his share of the responsibility for these issues.

“More than anything, we just have to execute at a higher level,” he said. “I feel like we’ve done a lot of good things — but at the same time, we’ve made a lot of mistakes that we haven’t been able to overcome. We have to be better in those bigger moments, not make those mistakes — and at the end of the day, go prove it… I believe that’s something we can do.”

It has become a common theme in the losses: faltering in key stretches of the contest. Against the Dallas Cowboys, the Chiefs were outscored 13-0 in the second and third quarter — despite having the last drive of the first half and the opening drive of the second. In the 22-19 loss to the Denver Broncos, Kansas City managed one scoring drive in the fourth quarter, while the Broncos had three.

“If you look at every game that we’ve lost this year, we’ve been right in it up until the end,” noted Mahomes. “But we haven’t made those plays. We’re definitely close. [But] like I’ve said these last few weeks, [while] we can be close, we can’t be close for too long. You have to go out there and make it happen.”

On “Sunday Night Football,” Houston will come in with a vaunted defense that has allowed a league-low 16.5 points (and 266 total yards) per game. This battle could play out as a low-scoring brawl, which requires the Chiefs’ defense to match both the intensity and execution of the Texans.

That will take a focused effort — with higher energy — from the defenders and special teams contributors. Cornerback Trent McDuffie believes each of those phases needs to get locked in.

“I think each group — defense, offense, special teams — kind of have to clean them up on their own,” he observed. “When you look at the games where we do really good, it’s a cohesive unit. Everybody is playing on the same court — [and] everybody is doing their responsibility at a high level. We have success that way.

[But] when guys come in and one person makes a mistake — [and] then one person over here makes a mistake —it has that trickling effect. That’s sometimes when we get in trouble.”

Over the next month, the team will need consistency to return to its potential. That, however, is easier said than done. While patience is a virtue, that may not be realistic for a team with its back against the wall.

“I think it’s tough, in a sense, that we like to win,” reflected Mahomes. “We all know it’s a process — and we all know that we just have to continue to give ourselves a chance and continue to get better. [But] when you have a lot of guys that like to win, it’s tough when you lose.”

Center Creed Humphrey understands the step-by-step mentality that is now required.

“It’s about showing up every day,” he said. “It’s about coming in on game day, executing, doing your job, things like that… The ship’s not sinking or anything. We’re still right where we need to be: just making sure we’re coming in and proving it each week.”

In Kansas City, the glass is half full — and that attitude could make a world of difference as the team attempts to defy the odds.

“I think that’s one thing that makes us great: that no one is hanging their head,” said Mahomes. “Everybody is ready to go out there and prove ourselves this next week… It’s a great opportunity at Arrowhead to showcase who we think we can be the rest of this season. It starts on Sunday.”

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...ust-improve-at-crucial-moments-against-texans

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs-Texans: 5 things to watch in pivotal Week 14 battle

The (6-6) Kansas City Chiefs will take on the (7-5) Houston Texans on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium for a “Sunday Night Football” game that will have major playoff implications. Kickoff is set for 7:20 p.m. Arrowhead time and will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock — locally on KSHB/41. It’s the Chiefs’ sixth of seven total primetime games this season.

After a brutal loss on Thanksgiving Day to the Dallas Cowboys, the Chiefs are the 10th seed in the AFC playoff picture. The Texans are also on the outside looking in, but they have gotten hot at the right time. Houston has won four straight games coming into Arrowhead, led by one of the best defensive units in the NFL.

Temperatures at kickoffs will be in the low 20s, and this game could be shaping up to be a slugfest. Here are five things to watch:

1. The Texans’ pass rush​

The Houston pass rush boasts two elite edge rushers and has been the key cog in their recent string of success. Defensive end Danielle Hunter is tied for fourth in the NFL with eleven sacks, and phenom edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. is tied for sixth with 10.5.

This pair of highly talented edge rushers has been enough to give fits to teams with solid offensive tackle play, but the Chiefs will be without starters at left and right tackle: Josh Simmons and Jawaan Taylor. Simmons was placed on IR, while Taylor was ruled doubtful to play after failing to practice all week.

According to Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid on Wednesday, Wanya Morris could start at left tackle, and Jaylon Moore at right tackle. But when asked to confirm that on Friday, Reid took a step back.

“Yeah, they’ve actually worked both sides,” said Reid. “So we’ll just make that decision when we get there.”

Due to a hectic campaign up front, both players have played in some capacity this season — but this week, they will need to turn in quality performances against the ferocious Texans’ edge-rushing combo.

2. Chiefs’ offensive line injuries​

The Chiefs will have backup offensive tackles starting this week, and right guard Trey Smith was ruled doubtful to play. That means backup guard Mike Caliendo will likely make his third start this year. He will be the third reserve lineman on Kansas City’s starting line against the NFL’s No. 1 defense in yards per game (266) and points allowed (16.5).

Taylor and Simmons being down limits what the Chiefs will be able to do in the downfield passing game, and how long Mahomes can remain in the pocket. The loss of Smith — arguably the team’s best run blocker — limits what they can do handing the ball off, and might force the play-calling to go away from it if there is no early success.

The team will need center Creed Humphrey and left guard Kingsley Suamataia to carry the load among a tattered unit.

3. A rock fight​

This game could be shaping up to be an all-time fight. The Chiefs are ranked ninth in the NFL in scoring, but with the heavy dose of backups in the trenches this week, the average is likely not to be reached against a strong Houston defense.

On the other side of the ball, the Texans’ offense has been in the lower third of the league this season in scoring offense, averaging only 21.9 points per game. This is partly due to quarterback C.J. Stroud missing time due to injury — but even when Stroud has played, he has sometimes struggled.

The weather could also play a factor in the game, preventing many points from being scored.

4. Stopping Nico Collins​

For the second game in a row, the Chiefs will be facing a team with larger wide receivers. Last week, the Chiefs’ secondary was lit up by the Cowboys’ duo of wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens; the Texans will likely try to capitalize on some of the same looks.

Texans’ wide receiver Nico Collins could create a mismatch nightmare for the Chiefs. At 6 feet 4 inches, Collins is the Texans’ top wideout and uses his strong frame to create separation off the line of scrimmage, as well as win contested catch opportunities.

After cornerback Trent McDuffie struggled all game against Pickens and Lamb, it is unlikely the Chiefs will match him up with Collins one-on-one too often. It will likely defer to cornerback Jaylen Watson with help over the top.

There should not be as many points on Sunday as the Thanksgiving game, but the defense will need to prevent the Texans from passing down the field for big gains — and then stop Collins in the red zone.

5. Kicking game​

A big play on special teams could define this game. With two offenses that could struggle in poor weather conditions, the kicking game will be all the more important.

Texans’ kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn is having a solid season. He’s converted 90% of field goals and 100% of point-after attempts, but has a history of missing kicks at Arrowhead.

Dating back to the historic 2019 AFC Divisional playoff game, Fairbairn has missed four kicks in Arrowhead in over just three games, including two in last season’s postseason trip to Kansas City.

Earlier this season, Chiefs’ kicker Harrison Butker was shaky — especially by his usual standard — but has never missed a kick against Houston at Arrowhead.

This game feels like it will come down to a late field goal, and with bad weather expected, there will be a lot of weight riding on each kicker’s foot.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kansas-city-chiefs-roster/188289/5-things-to-watch-vs-texans-week-14

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

In Week 14’s ‘Reacts’ poll, Chiefs’ fans see Chargers missing playoffs

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Each week, we send out questions to the most plugged-in Kansas City Chiefs fans. You can see all of the recent survey results here.

And be sure to check out FanDuel Sportsbook, the official sportsbook partner of SB Nation.

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Chiefs fans’ confidence​

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The fan confidence in Chiefs’ Kingdom nearly hit a season low after the Thanksgiving Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys, but it didn’t reach the 18% mark recorded in the wake of Kansas City’s Week 11 loss to the Denver Broncos.

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Which AFC Wild Card team won’t make it?​

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Nearly a majority of Chiefs’ fans believe the (8-4) Los Angeles Chargers will fall out of playoff contention, despite currently being the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs.

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Which running back do you want to see more?​

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Chiefs Kingdom wants to see more of the rookie running back.

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Who do NFL fans see winning the AFC West​

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In a poll of NFL fans, the results show that very few people believe the Chiefs will make a comeback in the race for a division title.

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NFL fans’ picks for Week 14​

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National fans predicted the Chiefs to defeat the (7-5) Houston Texans in Week 14.

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Click here to see other recent survey results.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/nfl-...lts-chiefs-fans-see-chargers-missing-playoffs

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

The Chiefs’ 3 biggest questions about Week 14 against the Texans

The Kansas City Chiefs are 6-6 after Thanksgiving’s 31-28 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, which has put the team close to elimination from the postseason. Now the team has had a mini-bye to prepare for hosting the Houston Texans in this week’s episode of “Sunday Night Football.”

Here’s what I’ll be wondering as the Week 14 matchup gets underway.

1. With offensive line injuries, how will the Chiefs protect Patrick Mahomes?​

The Houston defense features defensive end Will Anderson — who is playing like a Defensive Player of the Year candidate — and defensive end Danielle Hunter, who continues to play incredible football. They also get good pass rush from defensive tackles Tim Settle, Sheldon Rankins, Mario Edwards and Tommy Togiai, along with defensive ends Derek Barnett and Denico Autry. While Settle was just placed on the Texans’ Reserve/Injured list, those who remain can (and will) run a variety of stunts and slants to get their freak athletes looping inside very fast. They are, frankly, terrifying.

Unfortunately, the Kansas City offensive line is not healthy. Left tackle Josh Simmons has landed on the Reserve/Injured list after wrist surgery. Right guard Trey Smith and right tackle Jawaan Taylor are both doubtful for Sunday’s game. Even if they play, they likely won’t be at 100%.

There’s a real chance the Chiefs will be without 60% of their offensive line. That’s a nightmare. How could the team work around it?

For starters, it should play most of its snaps under center. I know head coach Andy Reid doesn’t want to do that, but getting into heavier personnel is a way to help the linemen. From a spread formation, the only way to support the offensive line is to double-chip both edges. This means just three passing routes can be run — which is far easier for the defense to cover

But by going under center, heavy personnel can pitch in on the protection — and it would help Kansas City’s running game. If you can only have two or three receivers in the concept, it’s better to pair them with play-action, which the offense can use to catch an aggressive defense napping. By leaning into an under-center game, Kansas City can hunt for deep passes as its runs slow down the aggressive Houston defensive front.

2. Can the Chiefs beat man coverage?​

Given the offensive line, Kansas City cannot go into empty protection. That’s a tough matchup with how the team schemes its routes. The goal is to spread the field, allowing the Chiefs to hit as many quick-hitting passes as possible; the receivers can turn upfield to create yards after catch.

But the weakness of this offense has been beating man coverage. When defenses glove up the quick hitters, it becomes difficult for Kansas City to get its routes open — and that leads to offensive chaos.

The Texans’ defense is elite in man coverage, so it will either jam the Chiefs’ receivers or sit in quarters coverage, covering every crossing route. If Kansas City allows the Houston defense to play aggressively — and dictate the tone — it will be in trouble.

So the Chiefs will need a better game plan than what they had against the Broncos, who used a lot of man coverage to stifle the passing game. How can they do it?

That’s where going under center will help. It’s harder to jam against condensed formations — and in play-action, crossers can be sifted opposite the offensive line. Free releases — especially downfield — are possible.

I think throwing downfield must be the plan. With the current offensive situation, Kansas City won’t be able to sustain long drives. This was a problem against Denver, so the team should go in the opposite direction: hunting for more six-play drives instead of 12-play marches. While it will come with variance, I think this is how the Chiefs can score on Sunday.

3. Can the Chiefs’ defensive line wreck this game?​

Speaking of shaky offensive line play… Houston also has issues. While the Texans are improving (and are on a four-game winning streak), their offensive line is still bad. In their victories, they played a mediocre Jacksonville Jaguars front four, the Tennessee Titans, the Buffalo Bills’ shaky front and the Indianapolis Colts without Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. The last time Houston faced a legitimately good front — the Broncos — it scored just 15 points.

The Chiefs’ pass rush doesn’t compare to Denver’s, but it’s similar to Jacksonville’s — and the Jaguars had success. So this is a game where the Kansas City defense has to dominate up front. Defensive tackle Chris Jones is going to get his pick of bad interior offensive linemen. Can he put together another heroic performance? That’s what he did against the Colts — and while he was great against the Cowboys in the first quarter, he ran out of gas late in the game. With a 10-day interval (and being at home), Jones could have a dominant performance.

Defensive end George Karlaftis had a poor game against Dallas, too, so he also needs to be better. But this is a matchup where he should be able to feast.

Kansas City will need to make this a low-scoring game — and a strong pass rush can help make that happen.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...iggest-questions-about-week-14-against-texans

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

5 questions about the Texans: What’s changed for C.J. Stroud?

On Sunday Night, the Kansas City Chiefs face the Houston Texans We welcome Scott Barzilla of Battle Red Blog — our sister SBNation site covering the Texans — for Five Questions with the Enemy.

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1. With both the Texans and Chiefs in must-win situations, what will Houston need to do to leave Kansas City with a victory?​

The key point of demarcation is 20 points. The Texans have held all but three of their opponents under 20 points, so if they can get to 21 points on offense they have a pretty good chance of winning the game. The key will be getting to quarterback Patrick Mahomes and forcing him to make a couple of mistakes. If Houston can get a short field or two, then they can get to those 21 points and sneak out of Kansas City with a victory.

2. The Texans’ defense ranks first in EPA per play, yards per game and points per game (16.5). What makes it so dominant?​

In short, the Texans make life for opposing quarterbacks very difficult. For the second year in a row, they have led the NFL in opponent completion percentage. They do this with constant pressure and elite corners who can cover receivers one-on-one. The linebackers also do a pretty good job of plugging the holes, making it hard to run the ball. The combination is pretty lethal. The stars of the show are Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter on the edges, as both have already passed 10 sacks on the season. However, their interior defensive line is probably the most improved part of their defense. Most of the players are known to Chiefs fans from last year, so the addition of Sheldon Rankins and Tommy Togiai will be the biggest differences from last year’s defense.

3. The Texans’ offense has been more middle-of-the-pack. What needs to happen for the team to make a strong push toward the postseason?​

Thank you for saying the offense has been middle-of-the-pack. That is a bit of a confidence boost. In fact, the Houston offense is in the bottom third in almost every meaningful category. This is spilling over into your next question, but the problem has been an identity crisis. Stroud and the passing game is the strength of the offense, but head coach DeMeco Ryans wants to be a smash-mouth football team. That dog won’t hunt, as we like to say in the South. The line hasn’t been terrible — it is a lazy narrative to just pile on the offensive line — but they aren’t the kind of line that moves people. The Texans are awful situationally. They suck in short-yardage situations on third and fourth down — and in the red zone, too. If they could be average in those categories they would likely be an average offense overall — and with their defense, they would win virtually all of their games.

4. C.J. Stroud’s rookie season was magical, but he hasn’t matched that production since. What has changed for Stroud — and can he return to his rookie-year form?​

Stroud suffering statistically is akin to the old talking point about Dean Smith being the only coach who could hold Michael Jordan under 30 points a game. The Texans have shifted to a shorter passing game this season to keep Stroud from getting hit. By and large, that has worked. He isn’t getting sacked as often and he is completing a higher percentage of his throws. The numbers overall won’t look as good because Ryans is determined to score 20-24 points, which is just enough to win. On a certain level, I get it. The last two games proved that if you simply don’t turn the ball over, that defense allows you to win most of your games. In Year 1, Stroud led the league in passing yards per game. The coach that has done the best job of keeping Stroud down is Ryans.

5. Outside of Patrick Mahomes, which Chiefs player concerns you the most? Why?​

I always worry about Travis Kelce. Obviously, he is a Hall of Fame player and while he is not what he was during his prime, he is still dangerous. What makes him particularly dangerous is that the Texans have never been great at covering tight ends. The strength of their secondary is in their corners Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter. Both are likely Pro Bowl participants that can lock down outside wide receivers for most of the game. The linebackers and safeties are not quite as good in coverage. Mind you, this is a spot of general improvement from years past, so I don’t know if Kelce goes off for 100-plus yards like he did in the playoffs last season, but he is one guy the Texans may not have an answer for.

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Be sure to check out the answers I gave to their questions by clicking here.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...ons-about-texans-whats-changed-for-c-j-stroud

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs-Texans LIVE updates: Texans lead 10-0 in second quarter

In the Week 14 episode of “Sunday Night Football,” the (6-6) Kansas City Chiefs are hosting the (7-5) Houston Texans in a late-season matchup with serious postseason implications. No longer in complete control of their playoff destiny, the Chiefs need a win against the Texans to make the postseason a 50/50 proposition. Meanwhile, a Houston win will give the team a big step toward a playoff berth — and allow it to stay in contention for the AFC South title.

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First quarter​

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Kansas City began at its own 33 and leaned on Isiah Pacheco for back-to-back 3-yard runs before Patrick Mahomes’ third-down throw to Noah Gray fell incomplete. With nothing developing beyond midfield and Wanya Morris leaving the field after the first snap, Matt Araiza punted from the 39, sending a 48-yard kick that Jaxson Noel secured with a fair catch at the Houston 13.

Houston began at its own 13 and leaned on Will Marks for the early work, using an extra blocker in Ben Fisher to spring a 6-yard gain off left guard. Marks added 3 more up the middle, setting up a manageable second down, but the Texans failed to build real momentum from there. A short pass from C.J. Stroud to Christian Kirk gained 6 yards, but Kansas City’s front stiffened: George Karlaftis and Nick Bolton combined to stop Marks on a right-end run, and a sack split by Jerry Tillery and Ashton Gillotte pushed Houston backward before a defensive-holding call on Bolton wiped out another stop. After the penalty reset the chains, Marks gained 2 yards on a right-tackle call, then 3 more inside, but the Chiefs held firm again as Stroud’s third-down throw to Nico Collins fell incomplete.

Texans strike first after explosive gain, failed tush-push attempt​

Houston finally broke the scoreless start after C.J. Stroud hit Nico Collins for a 46-yard gain to the Kansas City 21 — a play on which Trent McDuffie was injured. Will Marks followed with short gains before an illegal shift erased a touchdown to Dalton Schultz, and a completion to Jalen Higgins set up fourth-and-1. Houston lined up for a tush push to extend the drive, but left tackle Amarius Ersery was flagged for lining up offsides, wiping out the attempt and forcing the Texans to settle for a 35-yard field goal from Ka’imi Fairbairn to take a 3–0 lead.

Kansas City opened its next series with Mahomes scrambling twice for gains of nine yards each, while Pacheco added two efficient runs to move the ball toward midfield. Hunt pushed the Chiefs across the 50 before the drive stalled: Mahomes was sacked by Togiai for a nine-yard loss, and Rice’s seven-yard catch on third-and-long wasn’t enough to recover the yardage. Wanya Morris was ruled out with an injury during the sequence, and Trent McDuffie’s return was deemed questionable.

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Second quarter​

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Chiefs open up the quarter with a Matt Araiza punt from the Houston 49, and although the Texans were flagged for running into the kicker, Kansas City declined and took the result of the 39-yard punt, which Jaxon Noel secured with a fair catch at the Houston 10 as the first quarter ended.

Texans extend their lead with Marks’ receiving score
Houston extended its lead with a methodical, penalty-aided march that leaned on C.J. Stroud’s accuracy and Nico Collins’ explosiveness. After Marks opened the series with a short run, Kansas City’s defensive holding erased a third-down stop and kept the drive alive. Stroud then found Schultz to reach the 37 before Chubb and Marks combined to push the ball toward midfield. The breakthrough came when Stroud hit Collins on a deep crossing route for 53 yards to the Kansas City 7. A false start briefly backed Houston up, but the Texans stayed aggressive; Stroud hit Collins again and then turned to Marks, who caught a swing pass on third-and-9 and slipped inside the pylon for a 9-yard touchdown. Fairbairn’s extra point extended Houston’s advantage to 10–0.

Houston couldn’t take advantage of the short field created by Pitre’s interception. Marks gained 4 yards on first down, but C.J. Stroud followed with two incompletions, bringing up fourth-and-6. Townsend then angled a 39-yard punt that Xavier Hutchinson downed at the Kansas City 3, pinning the Chiefs deep.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...live-updates-kickoff-coming-soon-at-arrowhead

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs’ Andy Reid gives update on Wanya Morris and Trent McDuffie

The Kansas City Chiefs saw the already-fading playoff hopes go completely on life support with Sunday’s 20-10 loss to the Houston Texans. The loss was costly from that reason and from an injury standpoint.

On the first play from scrimmage, tackle Wanya Morris suffered a gruesome-looking knee injury. Morris was already forced into action after starting left tackle Josh Simmons was placed on injured reserve this week, and right side starter Jawaan Taylor was ruled out for the game. The third-year pro was shown leaving the field in the back of a cart and was quickly ruled out.

On Kansas City’s second defensive series, star cornerback Trent McDuffie was slow to get up while defending Texans wideout Nico Collins. The NBC broadcast did show footage of trainers examining McDuffie’s knee for stability. Although he was seen running on the sideline and using a stationary bike, McDuffie was ruled out with a knee injury after halftime.

Head coach Andy Reid briefly addressed the injuries after the game while revealing that McDuffie suffered a hyperextension.

“We had a couple of injuries,” he remarked. “Wanya Morris hurt his leg. It’s [his] lower leg. We’ll just have to see in the next day or so how he is. Then, Trent McDuffie hyperextended his knee. So, we’ll have to see how it works out for him.”

Undrafted rookie Esa Pole then saw his first NFL action at left tackle — lined up against one of the NFL’s best pass rushes. While the Chiefs suffered their fourth loss in five games, Pole held his own and was far from a key reason for the defeat.

Reid was impressed with the rookie.

“He’s one that probably didn’t practice much in there,” the coach recalled. “With limited time, he stepped up and was asked to play a crucial position at a crucial time. I thought he did a respectable job. It wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough.”

Patrick Mahomes was getting treatment on his knee during Chiefs-Texans game https://t.co/R3hgePVeLs

— The Kansas City Star (@KCStar) December 8, 2025

The Chiefs’ most important player also seemed to have an injury concern. Although he played every offensive snap, the broadcast also showed quarterback Patrick Mahomes using a heating pad on his knee while on the sideline in the second half. Although he practiced fully and had no injury status for the game, Mahomes was on all three injury reports this week with a knee issue.

Mahomes spoke after the game, but neither he nor Reid made any mention of the knee treatment.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...es-updates-on-wanya-morris-and-trent-mcduffie

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

5 winners and 5 losers from the Chiefs’ Week 14 loss to the Texans

We’re all losers after that game. A “Murphy’s law” season continues for your Kansas City Chiefs with a 20-10 loss to the Houston Texans in Week 14, and it’s the same stuff going wrong as always.

My submission in this week’s prediction post said it all (other than the correct outcome):

Sure… officiating has been terrible, but the defense couldn’t get off the field on third down, either. Still, what seems to really derail these games is when Kansas City’s playmakers can’t quite bring in a pass — or a big play is wiped out by a penalty. For the Chiefs to save their season, they’ll need tight end Travis Kelce and wide receiver Rashee Rice to make plays. While I expect Mahomes to deliver under pressure, I worry that this is a season where he won’t get enough help to make a run.

Injuries and stale offense have piled on to the recurring mix of penalties and drops we’ve come to loathe. At least the Chiefs’ defense came to play, until they were put in a bad spot one too many times. To no surprise, there weren’t many members of the offense in the “Winners” column this week.

Winners​

Defensive lineman Chris Jones: This was a tremendous effort from Jones. He was relentless, disruptive and explosive off the line of scrimmage. Jones finished with 4 quarterback hits (including a sack), a batted pass, and a tackle-for-loss. He heard the criticism from last week and responded like a man possessed.

Defensive end George Karlaftis: With Jones playing well, Karlaftis was also better — and that’s no coincidence. This defense works when each player has a great pass-rushing effort, and doesn’t when either one of them is quiet. Furious George finished with five total tackles (one for loss), a sack and another quarterback hit.

Linebacker Nick Bolton: His limitations are still there, but Bolton continues to execute his job for this defense. Against the Texans, he had 12 tackles (two for loss) and one quarterback hit. He was everywhere, as usual, and they almost had one of their best defensive efforts of the season as a result.

Cornerback Nohl Williams: The defensive back rotation continues to be insane. Rookie cornerback Nohl Williams has been fantastic, but was only on the field this week due to the injury to star cornerback Trent McDuffie. Williams had two passes defended and put up a good fight in coverage. Can we please see him on the field for every defensive snap moving forward?

Left tackle Esa Pole: The undrafted rookie made his NFL debut after left tackle Wanya Morris was injured early on and earned praise: “He wasn’t perfect, but he was good enough,” said head coach Andy Reid in post-game.

Losers​

Head Coach Andy Reid: I’m still not on the bandwagon to fire Reid, but I do think that Big Red has allowed this offense to get stale. The unit has the same problems it has had for seasons: too many penalties, too many drops, not enough depth and an ineffective running game; there are just not enough answers.

That’s on the coach. No amount of positive thoughts, “tonsil tickling”, or expressed good vibes can override the fact that this season will likely be a failure. The canned “we have to be better” statements have worn thin. It’s hard to see what is going to change at this point, but fans should prepare for major changes this offseason.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes: The two-time MVP is not to blame for the loss; in fact, he continues to be an elite quarterback this season despite everything around him.

There seemed to be a consensus among those watching “Sunday Night Football” that Mahomes did what he could, but his team let him down. I’m not going to argue that point — but then again, Mahomes set a new career high for consecutive incompletions (10) and tied his career high with three interceptions.

He’s a leader with transcendent talent who is largely responsible for this franchise’s success over the last seven years. He also hasn’t been able to finish close games this season. Both can be true. Mahomes can’t do it all himself, but it’s fair to expect him to elevate the team around him when conditions aren’t perfect. That didn’t happen enough against Houston or in 2025.

Wide receiver Rashee Rice: When you’re the team’s number one wide receiver, expectations are high. Prior to Week 14, Rice has put up number one-type stats, but against the Texans, his eight targets resulted in four catches for 34 yards. Even more disturbing was the trend of drops in key situations that began against the Dallas Cowboys. This week, Rice had some incredibly frustrating almost catches, including one on third down and two on fourth down in the second half.

Tight end Travis Kelce: While we’re talking about drops, we’ve got to talk about Kelce. With 3:44 left in the game, down seven points and backed up inside their own ten-yard line, it was go time for Kelce and Mahomes. The result? Practically a season-ending sequence of bobbling the ball, eventually leading to an interception. Houston took over with a short field and scored the go-ahead touchdown. It was the worst full game I can remember in Kelce’s storied career: five targets, one catch, eight yards in a backbreaking loss.

Kicker Harrison Butker: In the second quarter, he doinked an important field goal that could have changed the trajectory of the game. Butker is now 24th in the NFL in field goal percentage and 35th in extra-point percentage. He’s missed more kicks (8) than any other kicker who still employed. There is no margin for error in 2025, and the NFL’s highest-paid kicker has been coloring outside the lines all season. Butker’s contract has enough dead money to keep him for at least another season or two…

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Please note: the labels “winners” and “losers” are not judgments of talent or character. They simply reflect single game performance. No disrespect is intended.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...81/winners-losers-from-week-14-loss-to-texans

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Kansas City Chiefs open as favorites over Chargers in Week 15 odds

On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs will play the Los Angeles Chargers on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in a Week 15 matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. Arrowhead Time.

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Kansas City has opened as a 4.5-point favorite in the game.

In Week 14, the Chiefs opened as 4.5-point favorites against the Houston Texans, but lost that game by a score of 20-10. The Chargers are coming off a 22-19 overtime victory over the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles.

This season, the Chiefs and Chargers are two teams on opposite ends of the spectrum. Six of the Chargers’ nine wins have come in one-score games, while six of the Chiefs’ seven losses have come in one-score games. The Chargers will enter the game as the 5th seed in the AFC playoff race, while the Chiefs are on the outside looking in as the 10th seed.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...s-chargers-week-14-odds-kansas-city-favorites

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

NFL Power Rankings Week 15 Roundup: Chiefs bottom out with seventh loss

The Kansas City Chiefs’ latest loss felt like the nail in the coffin of this 2025 season. After the 20-10 defeat at the hands of the Houston Texans, the collective power rankings pushed the Chiefs down as far as possible for a team led by two-time MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Here’s this week’s sampling:

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NFL.com: 20​

(Down from 19)

Kansas City isn’t mathematically eliminated from the playoffs — yet — but Sunday felt like a funeral at Arrowhead, with the 20-10 loss to Houston officially ending the Chiefs’ streak of division titles at nine. Patrick Mahomes didn’t have anything close to a vintage game against a terrific Texans defense, but he also didn’t drop two catchable passes with a chance to tie or win the game in the fourth quarter. First came Rashee Rice’s brutal flub on fourth down, giving the ball back to the Texans. Then, after a great defensive stand, Travis Kelce’s bobble ended up as a game-killing Texans interception. There couldn’t have been a more cruel, painful knife twist than that ending — a surefire sign that this offense is broken, even if we’ve known it for a while. We’ve done various pre-eulogies, maybe even retracting a few along the way, but this feels like it. A shocking end to an incredible run.

— Eric Edholm

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ESPN: 16​

(No change)

Most shocking statistical ranking: Tied for second-most drops

Before the season, the Chiefs believed their collection of pass catchers was the best in quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ career. But following Sunday’s loss, the Chiefs have 24 dropped passes, according to ESPN Research. Tight end Travis Kelce had two drops Sunday night and has a league-leading eight drops this season. Also, Kelce has three drops that resulted in interceptions, tied for the most by any player in a single season in the past 10 years.

— Nate Taylor

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The Athletic: 20​

(Down from 17)

Worst-case scenario: It’s over

Not just over for this season (although that, too). The Chiefs’ chances of extending their playoff streak to 11 seasons fell to 16 percent with Sunday night’s loss, and perhaps worse, everyone on the offense looked old. Even the young guys. Rashee Rice dropped multiple passes. Travis Kelce bobbled one away to the Texans. Patrick Mahomes had three interceptions and a 19.8 passer rating. Kansas City has lost four of its last five.

— Josh Kendall

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Sports Illustrated: 18​

(Down from 13)

Tired: The Kansas City Chiefs’ dynasty is over

Wired: The Kansas City Chiefs should fire Andy Reid

Conor: I think Patrick Mahomes just had a really bad football game, played frustrated, passed up a handful of open reads and did all of this against the best defense in the NFL.

— Conor Orr

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Pro Football Talk: 19​

(Down from 18)

How bad would they be if they didn’t have Patrick Mahomes?

— Mike Florio

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CBSSports.com: 19​

(Down from 16)

Barring a miracle, they’ll miss the playoffs. That’s stunning to type. Patrick Mahomes watching the postseason doesn’t sound right.

— Pete Prisco

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Yahoo! Sports: 15​

(No change)

The overreaction to the Chiefs’ season will be fierce. People have been dying to dunk on the NFL’s current dynasty, and now is their chance. No, the Chiefs don’t need a full rebuild. They just haven’t won close games. Kansas City is still the No. 7 team in DVOA this season after Sunday’s loss, ahead of teams like Denver, Buffalo, Philadelphia and New England. Haters will get in their licks now. Level-headed people will understand it’s just an unlucky season for a team that’s still good.

— Frank Schwab

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The Sporting News: 19​

(Down from 17)

The Chiefs suffered a brutal, physically taxing loss to the Texans on Sunday night, summing up the woes of a shocking sub-.500 season for Patrick Mahomes, the entire offense and the defense.

— Vinnie Iyer

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USA Today: 16​

(Down from 15)

The last time they lost seven games? How about 2014 … which was also the last time they failed to qualify for the playoffs. Even if this dynasty wins out, it will still need significant help to reach Week 19.

— Nate Davis

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FOX Sports: 19​

(Down from 18)

The dynasty is over. They looked old, disinterested, and now they’ve lost four of their past five. They’re two games out of the last AFC playoff spot with four to go. … It is over, right? … Right???

— Ralph Vacchiano

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...eek-15-roundup-chiefs-drop-after-seventh-loss

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Analyzing Trent McDuffie’s hyperextension injury

The Kansas City Chiefs’ injury woes continued in the 20-10 loss to the Houston Texans in Week 14. In the first quarter, the Chiefs lost offensive tackle Wanya Morris, already filling in for a starter, and two-time All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie; both suffered knee injuries and remained sidelined for the rest of the evening.

In his post-game press conference, head coach Andy Reid revealed Morris suffered a lower leg injury while McDuffie suffered a hyperextension injury. The gruesome-looking injury suffered by Morris is as dire as it initially appeared, resulting in a season ending injury.

The timeline for McDuffie’s return is less certain. He was seen along the sidelines with a compression sleeve over the left knee, working on the stationary bike and jogging up and down the sidelines in an attempt to return. He was finally ruled out for the game at halftime.

Analyzing the injury​

A knee hyperextension injury occurs when the knee joint is forcefully bent backward. Several structures within the knee joint can be affected by this mechanism of injury. These structures include the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), lateral collateral ligament (LCL), and posterolateral corner. Other injury possibilities include a bone bruise, muscle strain, or fracture. Based on special testing on the sideline, the initial presentation of the injury appears to be ligamentous in nature, rather than bony pathology.

The NBC telecast showed the Chiefs’ medical staff assessing the ligamentous structural integrity of McDuffie’s knee. Three ligamentous structures were shown being tested for laxity on the telecast, including the ACL, LCL, and MCL, via the Lachman, varus, and valgus stress tests, respectively.

#TrentMcDuffie @Chiefs
Sideline left knee ligament stability testing
Officially QUESTIONABLE
Seems unlikely to return pic.twitter.com/eEE15xskWK

— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) December 8, 2025

Seeing McDuffie attempting to stay warm on the sidelines, and make an attempt to play, we can safely assume he did not suffer a complete ligamentous tear. A ligamentous sprain still takes time to heal and could cause McDuffie to miss some time.

In the immediate aftermath of the injury, McDuffie will be dealing with and managing through rehab the following: joint swelling, pain, and instability. His availability for Kansas City will be reliant on the management of pain and inflammation in the coming days. His injury designation throughout the week should provide further clarity on the severity of McDuffie’s injury.

The bottom line​

The Chiefs find themselves in unfamiliar territory, given their current record and place in the AFC Playoff picture. In a season where it seems nothing is going right, the injuries are beginning to mount for a team that has stayed remarkably healthy overall in its dynastic run.

The knee injury suffered by McDuffie will make things challenging for the defense should he miss time or play through the injury. Presumably, rookie cornerback Nohl Williams will get more reps as the Chiefs strive to stay in the postseason race.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...alyzing-trent-mcduffies-hyperextension-injury

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs-Chargers Week 15 Wednesday injury report: 3 out, 2 back to work

Each practice day of the season, the Kansas City Chiefs release an official injury report leading up to the next game. In the NFL’s Week 15, the Chiefs host the Los Angeles Chargers on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium at 12 p.m. (Arrowhead Time) on Sunday.

Here is the Chiefs’ first official injury report of the week:

Chiefs​

Player	Ps	Injury	Wed	Thu	Fri	Status
Hollywood Brown	WR	Personal	DNP	–	–	–
Jawaan Taylor	T	Triceps – Knee	DNP	–	–	–
Wanya Morris	OL	Knee	DNP	–	–	–
Trent McDuffie	CB	Knee	LP	–	–	–
Patrick Mahomes	QB	Knee	FP	–	–	–
Noah Gray	TE	Shoulder	FP	–	–	–
Nikko Remigio	WR	Concussion	FP	–	–	–
Rashee Rice	WR	Hamstring	FP	–	–	–
JuJu Smith-Schuster	WR	Rib	FP	–	–	–
Trey Smith	G	Ankle	FP	–	–	–
Bryan Cook	S	Ankle	FP	–	–	–

Chargers​

Player	Ps	Injury	Wed	Thu	Fri	Status
Keenan Allen	WR	Rest	DNP	–	–	–
Derius Davis	WR	Ankle	DNP	–	–	–
Trey Pipkins III	G/T	Ankle	DNP	–	–	–
Troy Dye	LB	Hip	DNP	–	–	–
Khalil Mack	OLB	Rest	DNP	–	–	–
Elijah Molden	DB	Hamstring	DNP	–	–	–
Justin Herbert	QB	Left Hand	LP	–	–	–
Will Dissly	TE	Shoulder	LP	–	–	–
Ladd McConkey	WR	Foot	LP	–	–	–

Some notes​

• For the Chiefs, two players who missed Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans were back at work as full participants on Wednesday: right guard Trey Smith (ankle) and wide receiver (and kick returner) Nikko Remigio (concussion).
• But right tackle Jawaan Taylor (triceps – knee) — who also missed Sunday’s game — did not participate on Wednesday. Also held out was swing tackle Wanya Morris (knee), who was injured on the first play of Sunday’s game while filling in for left tackle Josh Simmons.
• Starting cornerback Trent McDuffie (knee) was also injured on Sunday. He was a limited participant on Wednesday.
• Wide receiver Hollywood Brown (personal) was excused from Wednesday’s practice for personal reasons.
• The rest of the Kansas City players who were listed on the report were full participants. These included quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee), who was favoring his knee during the Houston game.
• For the Chargers, starting quarterback Justin Herbert (left hand) was limited. He told reporters that he was given precautionary X-rays after playing against the Eagles on Monday night — and that there was no evidence of further damage to his broken hand. “Everything was clean for the most part,” he said. “It’s just getting the swelling down and continuing to get full strength in it and continuing to do as much treatment as I can.”
• Two other starters — starting right tackle Trey Pipkins III (ankle) and starting defensive back Elijah Molden (hamstring) — did not participate. They were joined by rotational linebacker Troy Dye (hip) and special teams wide receiver Derius Davis (ankle).
• Two veteran starters — wide receiver Keenan Allen and starting outside linebacker Khalil Mack — were held out for rest.
• Two other important contributors — starting wide receiver Ladd McConkey (foot) and rotational tight end Will Dissly (shoulder) — were limited on Wednesday.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...-week-14-wednesday-injury-report-3-out-2-back

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

They know the odds are against them, but the Chiefs aren’t giving up

Despite online speculation that the Kansas City Chiefs’ season is effectively over, the team still has four games remaining — and remains mathematically alive in the playoff race. So even as they acknowledge the difficulty of the task before them — winning four straight games to close the season after losing four of their last five — players and coaches know what they have to do.

“They want to get to work,” head coach Andy Reid explained to reporters on Wednesday. “That’s how they’re wired. So they’re eager to get back on the field and get going.

“Everybody knows where we stand right now. They know what’s taken place — [and are] very aware. But they also like to work — so we’ll get back to it.”

“We understand we’ve got to win,” declared quarterback Patrick Mahomes. “That’s obvious. You’ve got to win the football game [with] whatever it takes. I mean, we say that every week — but obviously, [we’re] at that back-against-the-wall spot where you’re playing a team that you’re chasing that has a big lead in front of you, so you have to find a way to win. You have to have that mindset when you step on the football field.”

This is all unfamiliar territory for the team’s biggest star. As a starting quarterback, Mahomes has never failed to reach the AFC Championship. But Reid sees that his quarterback is continuing to handle the adversity.

“He’s great,” noted the coach. “He’s coming to work — and he keeps his head up at all times. [He] understands he’s in a leadership position — and he’s a good leader. [There’s] nothing you can do but try to get better. If you’re hanging your head, you’re not getting any better. [And you’re] surely not making anybody – including the whole team — [any] better.”

For Reid, getting the team out of its funk is about returning to the consistency that brought it the best record in franchise history in 2024.

“We’ve been up and down,” he observed, “so we need more consistency — and that’s what we’re striving to get here now. We’ve had some great days — [some] great plays — but you have to do it for four quarters in this business. We’ve got to be more consistent.”

For Mahomes, this starts with having great days at practice — and building from there.

“[It’s about] getting extra work in with the guys on the sideline — like I always do — and then when you’re in that practice you have conversations with guys and keep them in the right mindset,” he explained.

But he’s not doing it alone. Teammates like defensive tackle Chris Jones and tight end Travis Kelce predate his arrival — and Mahomes is relying on their perspective.

“We’re in an unprecedented territory,” he remarked. “Someplace that we haven’t been since I’ve been here. I think you lean on the guys [who] have battled through adversity and came out better on the other side. That’s Chris, Trav [and] all of these guys that have won championships.

“It hasn’t always been pretty, but [these games will] really test us to see what type of character we [have] — and I think we’ve got the guys in the room to do it.”

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...s-are-against-them-but-chiefs-arent-giving-up

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs-Chargers Week 15 Thursday injury report: 3 out, 1 downgraded

Each practice day of the season, the Kansas City Chiefs release an official injury report leading up to the next game. In the NFL’s Week 15, the Chiefs host the Los Angeles Chargers on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium at 12 p.m. (Arrowhead Time) on Sunday.

Here is the Chiefs’ second official injury report of the week:

Chiefs​

Player	Ps	Injury	Wed	Thu	Fri	Status
Jawaan Taylor	T	Triceps – Knee	DNP	DNP	–	–
Wanya Morris	OL	Knee	DNP	DNP	–	–
Nick Bolton	LB	Illness	FP	DNP	–	–
Hollywood Brown	WR	Personal	DNP	LP	–	–
Trey Smith	G	Ankle	FP	LP	–	–
Trent McDuffie	CB	Knee	LP	LP	–	–
Patrick Mahomes	QB	Knee	FP	FP	–	–
Noah Gray	TE	Shoulder	FP	FP	–	–
Nikko Remigio	WR	Concussion	FP	FP	–	–
Rashee Rice	WR	Hamstring	FP	FP	–	–
JuJu Smith-Schuster	WR	Rib	FP	FP	–	–
Bryan Cook	S	Ankle	FP	FP	–	–

Chargers​

Player	Ps	Injury	Wed	Thu	Fri	Status
Derius Davis	WR	Ankle	DNP	DNP	–	–
Trey Pipkins	OT	Ankle	DNP	DNP	–	–
Troy Dye	LB	Hip	DNP	DNP	–	–
Elijah Molden	CB	Hamstring	DNP	DNP	–	–
Justin Herbert	QB	Left Hand	LP	LP	–	–
Ladd McConkey	WR	Foot	LP	LP	–	–
Will Dissly	TE	Shoulder	LP	FP	–	–
Keenan Allen	WR	Rest	DNP	FP	–	–
Khalil Mack	OLB	Rest	DNP	FP	–	–

Some notes​

• For the Chiefs, two players who missed Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans were back at work as full participants on Wednesday: right guard Trey Smith (ankle) and wide receiver (and kick returner) Nikko Remigio (concussion). But on Thursday, Smith was downgraded to limited participation. That’s not a good sign.
• After being excused on Wednesday, wide receiver Hollywood Brown was a limited participant on Thursday.
• Linebacker Nick Bolton was held out on Thursday because of a illness.
• Right tackle Jawaan Taylor (triceps – knee) once again did not participate on Thursday. Swing tackle Wanya Morris (knee) was also held out.
• Starting cornerback Trent McDuffie was once again a limited participant on Wednesday.
• For the Chargers, starting quarterback Justin Herbert (left hand) was again limited with his broken hand. He played with the injury in Monday’s game against the Eagles, but X-rays showed no additional damage.
• Starting wide receiver Ladd McConkey (foot) was also limited again on Thursday.
• Two other starters — starting right tackle Trey Pipkins III (ankle) and starting defensive back Elijah Molden (hamstring) — did not participate. They were joined by rotational linebacker Troy Dye (hip) and special teams wide receiver Derius Davis (ankle). All four were also held out on Wednesday.
• Two veteran starters — wide receiver Keenan Allen and starting outside linebacker Khalil Mack — were held out for rest on Monday. They were both full participants on Thursday.
• Rotational tight end Will Dissly (shoulder) — limited on Wednesday — was upgraded to full participation.

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For the Wednesday injury report, click here.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...-15-thursday-injury-report-3-out-1-downgraded