When Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton stood up in the locker room after their 22-19 loss to the Denver Broncos on November 22, 2025, he didn’t offer platitudes. He didn’t talk about next week. He looked his teammates—especially Patrick Mahomes—in the eye and said, ‘We’re not getting into the playoffs unless we start winning games we’ve been losing all year.’ The silence that followed wasn’t awkward. It was heavy. Because everyone knew he was right.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
By November 23, 2025, PlayoffStatus.com gave the Chiefs a mere 28% chance of making the postseason. Their 5-5 record, third place in the AFC West, and mathematically eliminated division title left little room for denial. The team’s 0-5 record in one-score games this season is the most glaring stat—a stunning reversal from the last five years, when Mahomes-led teams were nearly unbeatable in clutch moments. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Chase Daniel, and James Palmer broke it down on November 17: the defense isn’t generating pressure, the offensive line is inconsistent, and the team simply isn’t making the plays they used to make when the game’s on the line.
It’s not just the stats. It’s the pattern. In 2022, they won five one-score games. In 2023, six. In 2024, seven. This year? Zero. And it’s not just bad luck. It’s execution. Missed tackles. Poor clock management. A dropped interception in the end zone against Denver that could’ve changed everything.
A Season of Unraveling
The cracks started showing earlier than most admitted. On September 19, 2025, Kansas City Chiefs FAM reported Mahomes was nursing a minor ankle issue heading into Week 3. ‘All signs point to him playing,’ they said. But the concern lingered. Was this the start of fatigue? A sign that three Super Bowl runs in four years had taken their toll?
Then came the offseason moves. The departure of veteran offensive lineman Joe Thuney left a hole no one fully filled. The acquisition of Justin Fields as a backup didn’t pan out—he was traded in August after failing to impress in camp. The Chiefs’ depth, once their strength, now feels thin.
And then there’s the voice from the past. In mid-April 2025, before the draft even began, Jason McIntyre on The Herd declared: ‘I don’t think the Kansas City Chiefs are a playoff team next year.’ He didn’t say it because he hated them. He said it because he’s seen this before. NBA teams that go to the Finals three years straight? They crash hard the next season. NFL teams? Same thing. Ten playoff games in three years? That’s not a dynasty—it’s a sprint with no rest.
What’s Left to Play For?
Here’s the thing: the Chiefs still have a path. It’s narrow. It’s brutal. But it exists.
They face the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12, then the Dallas Cowboys in Week 13. Both are winnable. Then comes the rematch with the 8-2 Broncos—another loss here kills their hopes. Then the 7-4 Los Angeles Chargers. After that? The Las Vegas Raiders, the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Tennessee Titans. They need to win at least three of those final six games. And they need to win them convincingly.
Nick Bolton made it clear: ‘This isn’t about pride. It’s about legacy.’
Mahomes’ Quiet Resolve
Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes—three-time Super Bowl MVP, the face of the franchise, the guy who once turned fourth-and-15 into a touchdown parade—remains calm. ‘I’m responsible for this,’ he told reporters on November 23. ‘I’ve got to play better. We’ve got to play better. But I still believe.’
He didn’t point fingers. Didn’t blame the offensive line. Didn’t mention the defense. He just said, ‘We’re still in this.’ And maybe that’s the most dangerous thing about this team. Even at 5-5, even with 28% odds, even with the locker room shaken—you still wouldn’t bet against them.
Because this is Kansas City. This is Arrowhead Stadium. This is the place where, just three years ago, they came back from 24-0 down to win the Super Bowl. Where they’ve turned impossible odds into tradition.
As Sports Illustrated put it on November 23: ‘If the Chiefs have taught us anything, it’s to not count them out.’
What’s Next?
The next two weeks are the true test. Win against the Colts and Cowboys? The playoff door cracks open. Lose both? The season becomes about draft picks and rebuilding.
And if they win? If Mahomes throws three touchdowns against Indianapolis, if Bolton forces two turnovers, if the defense finally shows up? Then the whole narrative flips. The ‘overrated’ tag disappears. The ‘burned out’ theory evaporates.
But for now? The silence in that locker room after Bolton spoke? That was the sound of a team choosing between surrender and fight.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Nick Bolton’s locker room speech impact the team’s morale?
Bolton’s blunt assessment, delivered immediately after the Broncos loss, shifted the locker room from denial to urgency. Multiple sources report players gathered after practice the next day to review game film of their one-score losses—not to find excuses, but to identify repeated mistakes. The speech didn’t spark outrage—it sparked accountability.
Why is the Chiefs’ 0-5 record in one-score games so unusual?
Under Mahomes, the Chiefs were historically clutch, going 22-4 in one-score games from 2020–2024. This season’s 0-5 record is the worst such stretch in franchise history. Analysts attribute it to a combination of defensive breakdowns, offensive penalties in critical moments, and a lack of big-play execution when the game’s on the line—something the team hasn’t struggled with since Mahomes’ rookie year.
What’s the realistic path for the Chiefs to make the playoffs?
To qualify, the Chiefs must win at least three of their final six games, including victories over the Colts and Cowboys. They’d also need help: at least two AFC teams ahead of them must lose at least three games each. Even with a 8-8 finish, they’d need tiebreakers to leapfrog the Chargers or Raiders. The odds are slim, but not impossible—especially if Mahomes returns to his 2023 form.
Did Jason McIntyre’s April prediction hold weight?
Yes. McIntyre’s April 2025 call—that the Chiefs were ‘drained’ from their three-year playoff run—has proven eerily prescient. His point about athlete fatigue after sustained success mirrors patterns seen in the NBA’s Warriors and Lakers. The Chiefs’ 10 playoff games since 2022, including three Super Bowl appearances, created a unique physical and mental toll that no team had managed to sustain without a drop-off.
Is Patrick Mahomes’ performance declining?
Statistically, no. Mahomes still ranks top-five in passer rating, yards per attempt, and touchdown-to-interception ratio. But his decision-making under pressure has slowed slightly—fewer deep throws, more checkdowns. It’s not a drop in skill; it’s a drop in rhythm. The offensive line’s instability and lack of reliable receiving options beyond Travis Kelce have forced him into more difficult throws than ever before.
What does this mean for the Chiefs’ future beyond 2025?
If the Chiefs miss the playoffs, it could trigger a major roster overhaul. Key veterans like Trent McDuffie and Chris Jones are due for extensions, and the front office may prioritize rebuilding the offensive line and secondary. But with Mahomes under contract through 2031, this isn’t a rebuild—it’s a reset. The goal will be to avoid burnout and build depth before the next championship window closes.