After another disappointing loss, the Kansas City Chiefs have been swept by the Los Angeles Chargers in a season for the first time since 2021.
Like most games this year, the Chiefs had multiple opportunities
to avoid this embarrassing 13-16 loss, but costly mistakes, drops, and turnovers led to the Chiefs literally giving this game away.
Then the sky came crashing down, and the ground gave way beneath our feet, when quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL late in the game.
Here are five things we learned from watching a team on life support fail at raging against the dying of the light.
1. 2025 is officially the most depressing year in Chiefs history
Is this the worst Chiefs team in franchise history? No. Not by a long shot.
They say it’s the hope that kills you.
This was supposed to be the best set of wide receivers in the Mahomes era.
This was supposed to be Travis Kelce’s opportunity to go out on top.
This was the year the offensive line was supposed to be fixed.
This year, we were supposed to contend for another Super Bowl.
This season was supposed to be a lot of things — but it wasn’t supposed to be this.
They say it’s the hope that kills you— and they are right.
2. The Chiefs need to re-evaluate the receiving room
I don’t want this article to turn into a frustrated fan simply calling for people’s heads, for the sake of satisfying the frustration and pain inside me.
But let’s be real, Rashee Rice’s 2025 season has been brutal. On top of his six-game suspension to start the year, he has struggled to create any separation off the line of scrimmage, and his hands seem to have turned to stone as the season has progressed. He had a lot of promise, but it appears that much of his potential will not be realized at this time.
And while the Chiefs have speed on this roster, it’s all they have. They do not have anyone who is a ball winner or who can create separation. Everything is about getting schemed open, instead of getting open.
In 2024, Xavier Worthy looked to have every ounce of upside people saw in him when the Chiefs drafted him in the first round. This season, he has looked like all of his limitations.
This receiving room is not nearly good enough. The Chiefs need at least one legitimate X-receiver with size who can create a mismatch in coverage.
3. The Mahomes injury changes everything
There are natural comparisons for Mahomes’ injury to former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who tore his ACL in 2008 and returned the following year.
But the difference is that Brady was injured in the season opener, not Week 15.
The Patriots were coming off a 16-0 season that ended with a loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII, and still managed to go 11-6 that season with backup Matt Cassel at quarterback.
And when you look at how Brady returned, it’s not the most awe-inspiring story.
Sure, Brady threw for over 4000 yards in 2009, but the team also finished 10-6; New England won the division, then lost in the Wild Card round to the Baltimore Ravens.
For most teams, this would be considered a good season, but not for teams as dynastic as the Patriots with Brady or the Chiefs with Mahomes.
The Chiefs are looking down the barrel of an actual rebuild, and while returning to Super Bowl contention might be their goal next season, we might need to temper our expectations. History has shown that even for the greatest players and franchises, the road back to glory might be longer and more daunting than anticipated.
4. This team is at a crossroads
Right now, Kansas City has more questions than answers:
Will Mahomes be ready for Week 1 next season?
Do the Chiefs invest in a running back in the draft/free agency to help mitigate the transition and prevent another lost season due to a slow start in 2026?
If Mahomes is not going to be back to full strength until later in next season, does that impact any retirement plans for head coach Andy Reid or tight end Travis Kelce?
I think Reid is more likely to return than Kelce at this point, but both are fierce competitors who love the game. Kelce should see a diminished role if he does return, and Reid will have some tough decisions to make about his coaching staff.
5. Heads have to roll
It’s dumb to call for firing coaches for the sake of needing a sacrificial lamb to throw under the bus. These are people. They have families. This is their life and their career.
That being said, this is also a performance-based business, and the on-field product has not been good.
Reid and general manager Brett Veach should be part of the solution moving forward. Both have earned the right to attempt to fix this team’s flaws. To do so, it may require having a difficult conversation with some long-time members of the organization.
Special teams coordinator Dave Toub could be one of them. His unit has been putrid this season. End of story.
Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy should be another. This team does not show situational awareness on offense, and the lack of detail is a reflection of the coordinator. This is made evident in the number of drops and red-zone turnovers the Chiefs have had this season
Well-coached teams don’t make these mistakes.
