The Kansas City Chiefs‘ streak of 10 consecutive playoff appearances was already in danger after a Week 14 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday — but their AFC West counterpart Los Angeles Chargers, made matters worse on Monday night.
The Chargers escaped with a 22-19 win over the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 8, which hurt the Chiefs’ chances at a wild-card spot. The Chiefs’ chances of making the postseason were at 16 percent before the Chargers’ win, which dropped the Chiefs’ chances to 12 percent.
Entering a Week 15 matchup with the Chargers, there is no more margin of error for Patrick Mahomes and company.
According to The Athletic’s playoff simulator, a loss to the Chargers would plummet Kansas City’s chances of making the postseason to under one percent. The Chiefs do not have much to gain with a win.
Their playoff chances would increase to just 19 percent with a win over the Chargers. However, they have everything to lose with the hole they’ve dug themselves into, winning just six games entering Week 15.
Read more: Patrick Mahomes Sounds Off on Chiefs’ Playoff Hopes Following Texans Loss
There’s plenty that has to go right for Kansas City to make the postseason. Even if the Chiefs win their final four games of the season, their playoff chances would be 45 percent. Kansas City needs help from the rest of the league in holding off the Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills and Chargers from clinching their current holds on the AFC wild-card spots.
Read more: Chiefs’ Travis Kelce Could Face Punishment From NFL for Postgame Actions
Since Mahomes became the starter in 2018, the Chiefs have made seven consecutive trips to the AFC title game. That streak has looked shaky, but a loss at Arrowhead Stadium would effectively bury any hopes of a Mahomes miracle.
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