While the NFL determines whether Tom the GOAT should talk to Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs are dealing with the loss to the Bills. Here are three reasons why the Chiefs are in trouble after losing their first game of the 2024 season to the Bills.
One good thing for the Chiefs is that they get a break in Week 12 when they travel to face the Panthers. This should be a walk in the park against the lowly 3-7 team. If not, more question marks will appear for the two-time defending Super Bowl champions.
The biggest problem in the Chiefs’ loss to the Bills isn’t so much the end of an unbeaten streak, or even the showing of chinks in the armor. The bottom line about this loss is that it shows more vulnerability for a team already displaying less than dominance.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes can’t do it alone
As good as Mahomes is, he needs a lot of help if the Chiefs want to reach the top again this season.
The Chiefs said the right things about their 30-21 decision against the Bills. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said it came down to Josh Allen and the Bills are playing, according to chiefs.com.
“They played when they needed to,” Reid said. “It’s a great game that some of our kids can learn from. When two good teams compete, the margin between winning and losing is small. It starts with me, and we can all learn from it and gain something from it. This will make us better in the long run.
But playing games is important. Mahomes connected on 22 of 33 passes for just 196 yards. He passed for three touchdowns, but also had two interceptions. These numbers seem a bit suspect in that they are sufficient in such a confrontational game. The loss means the Bills have the tiebreaker advantage against the Chiefs. If this is the No. 1 seed for the playoffs, that’s a huge difference playing Buffalo versus Kansas City.
Mahomes said the Chiefs can use the loss in a positive way.
“You can use it as fuel,” Mahomes said. “We think we can play better, so we’re going to get back to work and try to use this as a spark so that in the end, we can become a better football team.”
Mahomes added, according to espn.com, the the first defeat did not crush the leaders.
“Being undefeated was cool. But that is not our ultimate goal. So we will continue to move forward in that direction,” Mahomes said. “They’re a good football team. Nothing that can stop you from losing to them. We feel like we can play better. So we’re going to get back to work and try to use this as a spark so we can ultimately become a better football team.
It’s fair to note that leaders have learned in the past. Buffalo has won four straight regular season meetings since 2021. However, the Chiefs have won three straight playoff games, including a 27-24 victory at Buffalo in the divisional round in January.
The one who makes the difference has to be WR DeAndre Hopkins
And there appear to be questions about whether there is enough left in the tank. Hopkins is 32 years old and a 12-year NFL veteran. Can he be enough of a weapon to get the Chiefs over the top against foes like the Bills? His three catches for 29 yards on Sunday suggest the answer is no.
Still, Reid said there are good things about Hopkins, according to Sports Illustrated.
“He’s great with contested balls,” Reid said. “That’s what he’s great with.” So if you understand, he has long arms and big hands. And if you get it in that radius, you’re pretty sure it’s going to catch that son of a gun. We’ve had good receivers here and we’ve had good receivers here, but that’s his strength there.
Mahomes seems to believe Hopkins will return as well.
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“I think the ability to win one-on-one is special,” Mahomes said. “I mean, it’s really special and sometimes it gets lost because every time you have a guy on the edge, it’s one-on-one with – I mean, like this week he was with (Patrick) Surtain. And Surtain is one of the best corners in the league. And he was winning some of those faceoffs.
“He really shows he can win head-to-head against anyone. That’s something that puts pressure on the defense when I’m hitting those guys in those one-on-one matchups and making them push guys, which opens the door for everyone. So, as well as being able to make difficult and contested catches like the deep cross he made in the middle of the field. This is something that, in my mind, shows me that I need to give him more and more chances in these situations.
The odds are stacked against the Chiefs
It’s too difficult to make things happen for three straight years in the NFL. Injuries are usually the main cause, but age also comes into play.
Watch how Travis Kelce is playing this season. He had two catches for eight yards against the Bills. These numbers are so bad he might as well not have dressed. Kelce produced his fifth poor performance of the season.
Maybe he doesn’t have it anymore at 35. It may be young in terms of hanging out with Taylor Swift, but folks, it’s old in the NFL.
The Chiefs therefore face problems of age and injuries as well as the determination of other teams. The Chiefs probably won’t be able to get past the Bills or Ravens in the playoffs this season.
