That was ugly. Coaching decisions were ugly. Defense was ugly. Special teams was most definitely ugly. Nearly everything about the Kansas City Chiefs' performance in Week 5 could be described in such disgusting ways because that's how it looked on the field. It's also reflected in the fact that the team has a losing record again after five games and faces a tough schedule ahead before the bye.
The Chiefs have only themselves to blame for the loss, but credit the Jacksonville Jaguars for putting a fight when it counted the most. As the Chiefs head back home to Arrowhead to lick their wounds and collect themselves following a 31-28 loss on Monday Night Football, we thought we'd add to the misery by recounting the winners (yes, there were some) and losers from Week 5.
Losers: Officials
Look, there's so much that can and will be said about the officiating in this primetime affair, but the best way to say it is that none of it was good. Calls were missed. Bad calls were made. If anyone had grown weary of talking points around the Chiefs and referees, this game is not going to help. The truth is that the officials in this game were involved on so many important plays that turned the tide of the game and then turned it again. It was pitiful effort by anyone in black and white stripes in Week 5.
Losers: Special teams
Speaking of penalties, while we're talking about those who throw the flags, the Chiefs sure kept them busy with several stupid mistakes in all phases of the game. Some of them were silly calls, which is why we led with officials, but K.C.'s special teams was in rare form on Monday night—and that's not a good thing.
Jack Cochrane had two penalties alone. Brashard Smith's monster return was called back. Harrison Butker kicked the ball out of bounds and gifted the Jags prime field position on the game-winning drive. It was such an odd display of sloppy football, especially from Toub's units.
Winner: Patrick Mahomes
We've all seen it and said it a thousand times and yet it feels impossible to overstate just how good Patrick Mahomes is. While he made his mistakes in this game (including a painful pick-six at the goal line by throwing into a non-existent window), the truth is that Mahomes has placed the Chiefs on his back more times than anyone can count.
On Monday, Mahomes made brilliant plays and intelligent calls—one after another after another. The scrambles are such an underrated part of his game, and yet they're critical to what the Chiefs were able to do in Week 5. He finished with 318 yards passing and 60 rushing yards (to lead the team). He's not able to celebrate a win in Week 5, but Mahomes deserves to be championed all the same. Plus, there was this:
HOW did Mahomes stay upright!? 👀
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/FN1C9ZMAAX
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 7, 2025
Winner: Brashard Smith
The Chiefs didn't exactly follow through with their plan to increase snaps for rookie seventh-round pick Brashard Smith, but he was still quite effective on the limited touches he was given. Smith's best play was an epic 63-yard return that would have given K.C. incredible field position, but it was called back on a (very) questionable penalty called on linebacker Jack Cochrane. Look for Matt Nagy to learn and give Smith his due going forward.
Loser: Harrison Butker
A kicker is generally expected to be ignored in post-game coverage—to come in and simply do his job to get the ball through the uprights on what should be forgettable plays. Somehow we keep coming back to Harrison Butker time and again in 2025. If Butker didn't have a storied history with this team, if he wasn't already on his third contract, then he'd likely already be on the streets. But kicking the ball out of bounds before the Jags' game-winning drive puts more pressure on his frustrating season.
Winner: Trent McDuffie
Trent McDuffie is one of the best corners in all of football, so it's not surprising to find him among our winners from time to time. But on Monday, he delivered in spades. His sticky coverage on key plays helped stall Jags' drives, and of course, there was the game-changing interception that allowed K.C. to get back into it with a short field (capped by a Kareem Hunt touchdown run). The Chiefs have plenty of talent in the secondary, but McDuffie is CB1 for good reason.
Winner: Kareem Hunt
Give this man his flowers. Two touchdowns to show he can still get it done in the red zone when the Chiefs need it most. Yet, let's not forget that Hunt also pulled off a very impressive 33-yard run earlier in the game when the Chiefs were pinned against their own end zone—a play that kickstarted an incredible long scoring drive for K.C. And let's not forget the hurdling heroics.
Loser: Chamarri Conner
Yes, it was a defensive pass interference. Nothing more needs to be said.
Loser: Chiefs coaches
There was a lot wrong in this game, including Dave Toub's unit just laying an egg in almost every facet (thanks, Matt Araiza for doing your job). But overall, Andy Reid's odd punting decisions, Matt Nagy's play calls, and Steve Spagnuolo's unit's abysmal performance in giving up 31 points—it all just adds to up a coaching staff that needs to take a hard look in the mirror after this game.