Kansas City sits at 5-5 and is currently outside the AFC playoff picture. They’ve lost five tight games and trail division rivals in a suddenly crowded AFC.
Sunday’s matchup with the Indianapolis Colts kicks off at 1 p.m. ET. The Colts are 8-2 and sit as the AFC’s No. 3 seed.
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Schefter warns, Chiefs’ margin for error is gone
ESPN insider Adam Schefter painted a clear picture: at 5-5, the Chiefs are not only under pressure, they’re behind the pack. Schefter noted Kansas City is 0–4 against teams that would be in the playoff field today, with losses to the Broncos, Chargers, Bills and Jaguars. With seven games remaining, Schefter stressed that several upcoming matchups carry direct head-to-head implications. Win the big ones, and you claw back in. Lose them, and the postseason becomes much harder.
At 5-5, the Chiefs currently are out of the AFC playoffs.
This season, they’re 0–4 against teams that would be in the playoff field today, with losses to the Broncos, Chargers, Bills and Jaguars.
Today the Chiefs face the Colts, the AFC’s current No. 3 seed, and the Texans in… pic.twitter.com/hmKk5pjFT6
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 23, 2025
The immediate test is Indy. The Colts bring balance and a winning record. Jonathan Taylor just posted a 244-yard, three-TD game. Daniel Jones has thrown for more yards this season than Mahomes by a small margin, and the Colts sit comfortably in the AFC hunt. This is not a simple trap game.
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For Kansas City, the issues are clear. The running game has been inconsistent. Play-calling and game management have been questioned. Mahomes himself admitted: “I’m just not making the throws.” Deep accuracy has been off. He’s 17-for-48 on throws 20+ air yards this season, and a costly overthrow to Xavier Worthy likely would have been a long touchdown against Denver.
The Chiefs need key victories against teams like the Colts and other AFC opponents, including the Texans, Chargers and Broncos, to keep wild-card hopes alive. Injuries and contract questions complicate matters, too. Linebackers, linemen and skill players have been in and out, and the cap situation limits quick fixes.
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This stretch will define Kansas City’s season. Mahomes and Andy Reid have navigated rough patches before. The Chiefs must win the pivotal games ahead or face a rare offseason without a playoff berth.
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