The Kansas City Chiefs have been known for their late-season comebacks, largely thanks to Patrick Mahomes.
But as the 2025 season nears its conclusion, the team finds itself on the outside of the playoff picture.
Former Chiefs offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz doesn’t believe Kansas City can turn the situation around.
“I mean, can they?” Schwartz said in a recent interview.
“Prediction at this point would be ‘no,’ just from what we’ve seen this year. It’s just not a team that’s gonna win five games in a row against three or four quality opponents.”
After a Week 13 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the Chiefs sit at 6-6 with a 37 percent chance of making the playoffs. Even winning all five remaining games may not be enough to secure a postseason berth.
Kansas City is currently 10th in the AFC and trails several wildcard contenders by two games.
Execution and penalties continue to hold the Chiefs back
Discipline has been a major problem this season. The Chiefs have committed 86 penalties for 753 yards through 12 games, often undermining their efforts in close matchups.
Critical mistakes, like Travis Kelce‘s fourth-quarter drop against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2, have resulted in turnovers and defeats.
Despite these struggles, the core talent remains intact. Mahomes ranks second in QBR and fourth in passing yards, while Kelce remains one of the league’s top tight ends.
Yet the consistency and execution that defined Andy Reid‘s teams have been missing, and the team continues to struggle with penalties and miscues.
Both stars recognize the challenge. On his New Heights podcast, Kelce said, “It’s tough to be a part of this reality right now cause we’re six and six and we’re fighting for our lives [to] find a way into the playoffs. What’s real is that we still have a chance, and that’s all that f****** matters to me… I’m going to keep coming in to work with that mentality and the sense of urgency that we need to have to get this s*** fixed.”
Mahomes added, “We’ve got to put it all together for four quarters in this league. That’s something we’ve been great at in the past-but it’s not the past.”
With five must-win games remaining, the Chiefs cannot afford mistakes. Schwartz’s assessment raises questions about whether the team has what it takes to go on the type of streak needed to reach the playoffs.
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