The Kansas City Chiefs are now in a position that is unfamiliar to them, especially since Patrick Mahomes took over the starting role.
At 5-5 after the 22-19 loss to the Denver Broncos, the Chiefs can just about kiss goodbye any chance to claim the AFC West for the first time in nine seasons, but perhaps even more worrying is that Kansas City's playoff spot is now in serious jeopardy.
Many are jumping on the Chiefs for the loss on Sunday, and the doom and gloom around this team as it pertains to their playoff life is everywhere.
But for head coach Andy Reid, inside the four walls of the building, it's not the end of the world.
“We're not quite as negative as the outside world is,” Reid said. “So, we know what we need to clean up, and we need to do it. But the guys, they get it. Some of these guys [have] been through some pretty good seasons, and this one, this isn't like this one's lost.
"So, we got to clean up a few of these things, and the urgency level obviously we need to make sure we take care of that now.”
More: Patrick Mahomes perfectly sums up Chiefs loss to Broncos with 2 words
Chiefs' playoff hopes hanging by thread
With the loss to the Broncos, the Chiefs are now three games out of first place, and more concerning, are now a full game out of a wildcard spot, which belongs to the 6-4 Jacksonville Jaguars, who also own the tie-breaker over the Chiefs, having beaten them earlier in the year.
So, there's that.
The Chiefs will need to go on a serious winning run if they are to make something of this season, and any talk of the division is now gone -- it's all about the playoffs and how Kansas City can punch its ticket.
That in itself feels like a tall order, but as Reid says, the season isn't lost, despite many thinking it is.
And as long as you have belief, you have a chance, and despite their position, the Chiefs aren't lacking belief.
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