For most of the dynasty days, the Kansas City Chiefs could always lean on kicker Harrison Butker to get the job done. He used to be one of the most accurate and hard-kicking placekickers in the NFL, but that hasn't necessarily been the case since he suffered an injury last season, and his woes and miscues have been a talking point way too many times this year already.
That's why Week 9 could be Butker's final chance to prove to the Chiefs that he's the right guy for the job. Otherwise, they might not have any loyalty left for him after colliding with the Buffalo Bills.
Week 9 Could Be Harrison Butker's Last Chance to Save Chiefs Job
The Chiefs will hit the road to square off with Josh Allen and the Bills on Sunday, and history has taught us that those games are usually instant classics and shootouts, with many of those instances usually coming down to the wire.
That's why the Chiefs can't afford to have Butker being the reason why they can't win this game, especially with how quickly he's becoming a concern. A missed field goal or even a failed extra-point attempt could lead to disaster on Sunday afternoon, leaving Kansas City's AFC outlook up in the air.
Even if Butker doesn't miss, the way the Chiefs have approached his subpar campaign could come back to haunt them on Sunday. They're being way more aggressive and going for it on fourth down once they cross midfield, and while they've been successful more often than not, that speaks volumes about their lack of confidence in Butker.
Head coach Andy Reid and special teams coordinator Dave Toubs have had Butker's back and said all the right things in front of the media. At the same time, watching them keep Butker on the sidelines and risk turning the ball over on downs tells a different picture.
So far, Butker has missed three field goal attempts and three PATs. Also, he may have cost the Chiefs a close win over the Jacksonville Jaguars when he kicked the ball out of bounds in a kickoff and gave them good field position for the game-winning score.
The fact that Kansas City's bye week follows Sunday's collision also paints a grim picture for Butker, as the coaching staff would have plenty of time to try out a new leg.
The Chiefs should have several options waiting in line for a chance to replace Butker, including Matthew Wright, who was just let go by the Washington Commanders. They should bring someone else to the mix, even if it's just to put some pressure on their veteran.
Whatever the case, one missed kick in a crucial game against a potential playoff foe should finally be the end of the line for him in Kansas City.
More Kansas City Chiefs News & Rumors: