Last week, the Kansas City Chiefs were the toast of the NFL. Their offense had awakened. Their defense had given up seven total points in two games. They had won five of their last six games, had rocketed back up to being one of the Super Bowl favorites, and Patrick Mahomes was the favorite to win the MVP. Then, on Sunday, they lost 28-21 to the now 6-2 Bills in Buffalo, and suddenly they're back to being a team that will be lucky to even make the playoffs.
The rollercoaster of opinions about the 2025 Kansas City Chiefs is enough to give you whiplash. Were experts and fans alike too quick to write the Chiefs off after their 0-2 start? Yes. Were fans and experts again too quick to anoint the Chiefs as one of the NFL's best teams after a hot streak that included wins over some teams that were struggling and dealing with major injuries? Also yes. Are there now people pivoting back to doom and gloom for the Chiefs after a one-score road loss to a good team? Once again, the answer is yes.
The Kansas City Chiefs are the same team they were before the Bills game
The Kansas City Chiefs came into the Bills game with some clear flaws. Their defensive line has been a disappointment. The absence of Josh Simmons at left tackle was a blow to the confidence Patrick Mahomes was developing in his offensive line in pass protection. The Chiefs, despite some impressive runs from 30-year-old Kareem Hunt, cannot consistently run the ball enough to take the pressure off Mahomes. Those things were all true when the Chiefs had won five of their last six and haven't changed after the loss to the Bills.
It is definitely fair to ask questions about the Chiefs’ loss to the Bills. The Chiefs’ game plan and execution against the Bills left a lot to be desired. It definitely felt like the Chiefs got outcoached in this game. That's disappointing for fans, but it doesn't really change the potential of this team, especially given their track record of stepping up in the postseason, specifically against this Bills team. So it is fair to knock Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo for this specific game, but if this one regular-season game changes your belief in this coaching staff after all they've achieved, you might be a prisoner of the moment.
It is true that the Chiefs would be out of the playoffs if they started today, and that is not ideal. However, the Chiefs now get a bye week to get back on track. They have the chance to make a move at the trade deadline, and they have plenty of key games remaining so they can control their own destiny in making the playoffs. They still have both games against the Denver Broncos, a home game against the Los Angeles Chargers, and a home game against the Indianapolis Colts. Those games will go a long way in determining how the AFC West and overall AFC turn out.
The bottom line here is that the Chiefs' flaws remain the same now as before the Buffalo game, but their high ceiling does as well. If KC can have a better game plan, get their starting offensive line back on the field, and potentially make an addition that could improve either their run game (Breece Hall, anyone?) or pass rush, this team is still absolutely a Super Bowl contender.
The loss to the Bills was frustrating and probably destroyed any hopes of them getting all the way to the top seed in the AFC, but they should still be a playoff team, and nobody will want to play them in the postseason if that happens.