Chiefs eliminated from NFL playoff hunt after dominant decade / Photo: JAMIE SQUIRE - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Chiefs eliminated from NFL playoff hunt after dominant decade
In what could mark the end of an NFL dynasty, the Kansas City Chiefs will miss the playoffs after 10 consecutive post-season appearances following a 16-13 loss Sunday to the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Chiefs, who last failed to reach the playoffs in 2014, fell to 6-8 with the home defeat, their third loss in a row and fifth in six games.
Together with victories by the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars the Chiefs were ensured of missing out on the playoffs after an epic run.
The Chiefs have played in five of the past six Super Bowls, winning the 2020, 2023 and 2024 editions of the championship spectacle while losing in 2021 to Tampa Bay and earlier this year to Philadelphia.
Patrick Mahomes, who has guided the Chiefs in their dynasty years, has battled a left knee injury this season.
He was knocked out of the game by the Chargers with a left knee injury with 1:53 remaining and helped to the locker room as backup Gardner Minshew threw a final interception to seal Kansas City's fate.
The Chiefs had already been eliminated from AFC West division title contention and were chasing a wildcard playoff spot until the latest defeat left them too far behind their rivals to make up the difference in the final weeks of the campaign.
K.Thompson--PI
