The Kansas City Chiefs, for most, won't be participants in the playoffs for the first time in Patrick Mahomes' career after dropping to 6-7 thanks to a 20-10 loss to the Houston Texans.
With the Chiefs out of the AFC West picture, and having lost to the fifth, sixth, and seventh seeds this season, the way back to the postseason feels nearly impossible.
Granted, aside from the Chiefs running the table and the teams above them suffering a historic collapse, the 2025 postseason won't have Kansas City in it.
And for NFL.com's Judy Battista, the offseason isn't going to be fun for the Chiefs.
"Sunday night was a worst-case scenario," Battista writes. "It's going to be a long, painful offseason for the Chiefs as the extraordinary first phase of Mahomes' career closes. Can he have the kind of second phase that Tom Brady enjoyed in New England?"
More: Andy Reid has perfect playoff message for 6-7 Chiefs after Texans loss
Is Chiefs dynasty over?
You could make the case that this version of the Chiefs with Mahomes is over, so in a sense, the first dynasty of Patrick's career is over.
And as Battista stated, Tom Brady had another dynasty after his first one, and maybe Mahomes will be the same. But with Travis Kelce looking like he could retire, and the defense aging with Chris Jones near the end of his career, change will be coming in Kansas City.
Will it be this offseason? Possibly, but it does feel like this first run for Mahomes is over, and what a run it has been. Brady didn't win the Super Bowl every year, so Patrick isn't on an island in that aspect, but maybe didn't expect it to end this quickly.
Yes, the Chiefs' initial dynasty is over, but with Mahomes, another one could be just around the corner.
More Chiefs news:
- Patrick Mahomes states the painfully obvious regarding Chiefs' playoff hopes
- Patrick Mahomes remains confident in Chiefs' offense despite disastrous Week 14 loss to Texans
- Travis Kelce made a tough decision after drop-turned-INT cost Chiefs game vs. Texans
- The only 2 kickers as bad this season as Chiefs' Harrison Butker have both been released