Ever since the Kansas City Chiefs were dominated in the last Super Bowl by the Philadelphia Eagles, there was no doubt that the 2025 season was projected to be complicated for Patrick Mahomes and company. In addition, in the AFC West, three teams made the playoffs last season, and once again the Broncos and Chargers are on track to return, while the Chiefs find themselves in serious trouble.
And that has been the case: this season has been a roller coaster of emotions for Andy Reid’s team. After Week 8, hope had returned for the Chiefs. They had dominated two contenders-the Baltimore Ravens and the Detroit Lions-and in betting markets Patrick Mahomes was the favorite to win MVP. However, in the last three weeks Kansas City has fallen to the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos, leaving them far from playoff contention and with Mahomes playing at a concerning level.
It’s worth remembering that since 2016, the Chiefs have always won the AFC West, and everything points to a new champion this year, with the Denver Broncos in position to take the division. Now, Kansas City’s objective is no longer the division title, but simply making the playoffs, and this Sunday could prove to be a decisive game for them.
Patrick Mahomes praised Sauce Gardner, cornerback of the Indianapolis Colts
After nearly a month and two painful losses in a row, the Kansas City Chiefs return to Arrowhead, and their opponent will be the leader of the NFC South-the Indianapolis Colts-who are having a spectacular season with Jonathan Taylor playing at an MVP level and Daniel Jones surprising since winning the starting job in the preseason.
To make things even more interesting, at the trade deadline the Colts acquired one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, Sauce Gardner, sending their 2026 and 2027 first-round picks to the New York Jets. Gardner debuted a couple of weeks ago in Germany against the Atlanta Falcons and didn’t look great against Drake London, but there is no doubt about his potential.
Patrick Mahomes has thrown only one touchdown pass and has been intercepted twice in the last two games, so facing Sauce Gardner is a significant challenge-and the Chiefs quarterback knows it: “I mean, obviously, there’s gonna be some difficulties there, but at the same time, we’ve played him so many times that you just go back and watch every game that you played against them. And see the different things that he’s done to you, the changeups he’s thrown at you. And then know there’s going to be a wrinkle that he has this game, and try to make a positive play out of it.”
For now, betting markets still respect the Kansas City Chiefs, and against the Colts, Patrick Mahomes and company remain four-point favorites. The Chiefs absolutely need the win to stay alive in the AFC playoff race; another loss could be devastating. As for the division title, that is far out of reach.
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