In Week 16, the Kansas City Chiefs lost 26-9 to the Tennessee Titans for their ninth loss of the season, guaranteeing a losing record in 2025.
Here are three instant takeaways from the game:
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was masking a flawed offense
From the opening
drive, it was clear the Chiefs’ offense was in a bad spot without quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Quarterback Gardner Minshew made his 47th career NFL start before exiting with a knee injury he appeared to suffer on a scramble on the opening series.
Here are the four drives he captained:
These are the four drives he captained:
- Three-and-out (with two false start penalties)
- Three-and-out
- Six plays, 23 yards and a punt
- Two plays that resulted in a safety for the Titans
Quarterback Chris Oladokun relieved Minshew to make his first NFL appearance and moved the offense into position for three field goals. Still, Kansas City did not reach the red zone until midway through the third quarter, with the deficit already 16-6.
Kansas City’s run game was just as ineffective as ever against a defense that has given up the second-most rushing scores (19) in the NFL and allows the 12th-highest rate of rushing yards per carry. Running back Isiah Pacheco and running back Kareem Hunt combined for 36 yards on 11 attempts.
Pacheco led the offense in rushing (34) and receiving yards (41). Kansas City did not create much space for explosive plays until wide receiver Xavier Worthy’s 28-yard catch and run in the third quarter.
Tight end Travis Kelce caught one pass on four targets, with most of the throws in his direction offering little chance to connect.
The Chiefs finished 1-for-7 on third down on the way to nine points. There were flashes from Oladokun, but four sacks (and several heavy hits) kept the offense stuck in survival mode. It was an ugly showing.
The organization is showing no interest in the future
Outside of injury-driven necessities, Kansas City did not make significant lineup changes for this inconsequential matchup. The gameday inactive list included running back Dameon Pierce, an intriguing practice-squad option who was signed to the 53-man roster on Saturday.
With Pierce inactive, the only other backfield prospect was rookie running back Brashard Smith. Pacheco and Hunt are set to hit free agency after the season, yet the two veteran backs continued to handle most of the snaps. In fact, Smith lined up as a slot receiver more than a running back, suggesting his gadget role may be evolving into a more permanent position.
Wide receiver Jalen Royals was active due to the absence of wide receiver Rashee Rice (concussion) and wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (concussion). Last April’s fourth-round pick still did not get a real chance to showcase his skill set in Tennessee — and he may not have taken a single snap. Wide receiver Hollywood Brown and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster — both headed for unrestricted free agency — combined for 34 yards on seven targets.
The Chiefs can’t rise to their leaders’ wake-up calls
After tackle Esa Pole missed an assignment that allowed Titans nose tackle Jeffery Simmons to record a safety — the game’s first points — the CBS broadcast showed center Creed Humphrey and guard Trey Smith angrily yelling toward the sideline.
It was a passionate moment from two of the few long-term starters still taking the field for Kansas City on Sunday. There was also at least one instance where Kelce appeared to shout instructions back to his quarterback after an incompletion.
However strong the words were, the Chiefs did not have the capacity to answer the call. There were flashes of effort, but this season’s version of Kansas City has made results like this feel inevitable regardless of who takes the field. Injuries have contributed, but the foundation clearly needs “retooling” this offseason — as head coach Andy Reid put it on Monday.
