For the primary time in his profession as a beginning quarterback, Patrick Mahomes is not going to solely fail to achieve the AFC Championship sport — he will not even play within the postseason.
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have been eradicated from playoff competition on Sunday, dropping 16-13 to the Los Angeles Chargers in what was a must-win sport. The Chiefs’ loss, mixed with wins from the Buffalo Payments, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans, formally erased any hopes Kansas Metropolis had of constructing the postseason.
The Chiefs now received’t take part within the playoffs for the primary time since 2014. Mahomes has been the group’s starter since 2018, and had superior to not less than the convention championship sport from that 12 months by way of final season. Kansas Metropolis has additionally represented the AFC in 5 of the final six Tremendous Bowls, successful three.
The Chiefs fell to 6-8 with Sunday’s loss, and their final three video games of the season will now be successfully meaningless.
Kansas Metropolis was main Sunday’s sport 13-3 earlier than giving up the ultimate 13 factors of the sport. The Chiefs have been driving for a possible game-tying or go-ahead rating within the last two minutes within the fourth quarter when Mahomes exited after re-aggravating a left knee damage.
Kansas Metropolis nonetheless had a chance to tie or win after Mahomes left, however backup quarterback Gardner Minshew threw an interception on the group’s last possession.
Mahomes completed the loss towards Los Angeles finishing 16-of-28 passes for 189 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception. Mahomes’s passer score of 62.9 was his third-worst of the season.
The Chiefs dropping to the Chargers in a one-score sport was a microcosm of their struggles this season.
Final 12 months, together with the playoffs, Kansas Metropolis was 12-0 in video games determined by one rating or much less. After Sunday’s defeat, the Chiefs fell to 1-7 in one-score video games this season.
Mahomes has additionally failed to achieve his lofty requirements this 12 months. Coming into this week, his passer score and completion proportion have been each his lowest since his rookie season, when he performed in just one sport.
Kansas Metropolis nonetheless has three video games left — on the street towards the Tennessee Titans, at residence towards the Denver Broncos, and again on the street to play the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 18.
Along with lacking the playoffs, the Chiefs have additionally didn’t win the AFC West for the primary time since 2015.
