The Kansas City Chiefs‘ 20-10 defeat to the Houston Texans not only shook their playoff hopes, but also sparked a postgame discussion on responsibility and leadership between quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid.
The late-game loss began with a rare and aggressive choice from a usually measured head coach as Reid, dubbed Big Red, opted to go for it on a fourth-and-one attempt from their own 31-yard line.
Normally, teams try to draw the defense offside rather than snap the ball, or even take a field goal to add three points to the board, but the Chiefs went for broke and the pass fell incomplete.
Six plays later, Texans running back Dare Ogunbowale scored a five-yard touchdown to break the tie at 17-10, giving Houston the momentum; but then minutes afterward, a second failed fourth-down attempt by Kansas City further handed control to the visitors.
The Texans eventually ran out winners to deal a damaging blow to the Chiefs’ NFL Playoffs hopes as Reid summarized the series with rare openness and accountability.
“Didn’t work out the way we planned. Really, all three of the fourth downs that we missed,” Reid said, taking responsibility for the aggressive calls that backfired ensuring the buck stops with the 67-year-old.
Mahomes‘ endured one of his most challenging nights statistically with echoes of his Super Bowl defeats to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles as he finished 14-of-33 passing for 160 yards, zero touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Struggling to maintain control, the Chiefs entered Week 14 after a 31-28 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Their postseason odds are now 15% and they are now out of contention in the AFC West.
“I’ll never question the decision to go for it on 4th down,” Mahomes told reporters, protecting Reid while refusing to shift blame as he backed his boss to know what to do when the chips are down.
Who do the Kansas City Chiefs play next?
After their Week 14 loss to the Houston Texans, the Chiefs sit at 6-7, leaving their NFL Playoffs hopes hanging by a thread as mathematical elimination looms on the horizon.
With only four games remaining, they must essentially win every matchup to keep any postseason aspirations alive, putting them into a critical stretch of the 2025/26 season.
Next up, the Chiefs will host the Los Angeles Chargers in a pivotal AFC West clash with enormous implications, as a win could stabilize Kansas City’s position and give them a glimmer of hope, but a loss would all-but bring the season to a close.
Following the Chargers, the Chiefs will take on the Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders to close out the season. The best record the team can finish 2025 with is now 10-6. It may not be enough even if they achieve it.
Read the full article here
