In a dramatic turn of events on Sunday, Patrick Mahomes left the game with a knee injury, shattering the Kansas City Chiefs’ ten‑year playoff streak.
With the Chiefs trailing 16‑13 and just under two minutes left, Mahomes scrambled toward the Kansas City sideline, threw the ball away, and was spun to the ground by Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand. The quarterback remained down on the field in pain while the team’s medical staff tended to him. He was helped off the field, placed some weight on his leg, and entered the blue medical tent before being escorted back to the locker room.
After the play, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid remarked that the injury “didn’t look good.” Mahomes, a two‑time MVP and three‑time Super Bowl champion, had thrown for just 189 yards and an interception during the contest. With less than two minutes remaining, the offense needed a field goal to tie the score and preserve playoff hopes.
Backup quarterback Gardner Minshew stepped in to replace Mahomes, guiding the team into field‑goal range with a series of short completions. However, the Chiefs’ comeback effort stalled when defensive back Derwin James intercepted a pass on a second‑down play at the Chargers 39‑yard line with 14 seconds left on the clock.
Minshew told reporters, “I hate the situation. I hate that I couldn’t deliver the win and keep our hopes alive.” The loss dropped Kansas City to a 6‑8 record for the season.
Alongside victories by Jacksonville, Buffalo, and Houston, the defeat eliminated the defending AFC champions from playoff contention, officially snapping the franchise’s 10‑season streak of reaching the postseason—second only to the New England Patriots’ 2009‑2019 run.
Mahomes, who was drafted in 2017, will miss the playoffs for the first time in his career, a rare occurrence for a player of his caliber.
The Chiefs’ season ends abruptly after a dramatic collapse, as the injury to their star quarterback and the final play’s turnover combine to erase a decade of postseason success.
Reid’s assessment of the injury and Minshew’s frustration highlight the gravity of the situation for the Chiefs organization and its fans.
With the playoffs now out of reach, Kansas City must regroup and focus on the next season as they seek to rebuild after a heartbreaking loss.
