Can the Chiefs’ season be saved? A look at their prospects

The Kansas City Chiefs enter Week 14 of the 2025 season with their postseason hopes precariously balanced. At 6–6, they’re teetering on the edge: the team is still alive, but far from the juggernaut fans have come to expect.

What began as a bid for another run at history-making has felt more like a slip-and-slide into uncertainty. For the first time in years, Kansas City have dropped early games and failed to build momentum. A 0–2 start, their worst since 2014, was dystopian foreshadowing for what was to come.

As the season unfolded, inconsistency set in like rot. Close games that might once have tilted in the Chiefs’ favour slipped through their fingers. The all-winning machine was no more, in an instant, and nobody can quite work out why.

How the Chiefs can salvage their season

If the Chiefs hope to rescue their season, the first priority is straightforward: they need to win every remaining game, or at the very least four of their final five. Their run-in features a blend of teams fighting for playoff spots and others simply playing out the schedule, but given their position, none of those matchups can be taken for granted.

They have almost no chance of catching up in the AFC West, so the focus now shifts to the wild card race. One of the teams sitting two games ahead of them is Buffalo at 8-4, facing a 4-8 Cincinnati side. The Chiefs will be hoping the Bengals manage an upset because Kansas City needs the teams above them to slip.

In the AFC North, Baltimore and Pittsburgh meet as two 6-6 teams. One will move into a stronger position with a win, while the other drops to 6-7. From the Chiefs’ perspective, the team that falls behind is the one they need to keep losing after today.

The AFC South presents a similar picture, with Jacksonville and Indianapolis both at 8-4. The Chiefs will want whichever team loses that matchup to continue slipping in the weeks ahead.

There is also the Monday night meeting between the 8-4 Chargers and the Eagles. Kansas City need Philadelphia to win, as a Chargers loss would give the Chiefs a clearer path in the wild card race.

Related stories

NFL

Elite QB ‘unlikely’ to play again this season, contract issues on the horizon

NFL

Snow affects NFL action

Of course, I’m sat in a slightly-too-warm office writing this from a chair that spins and the coffee machine has just pinged. It’s easy enough to shout and point and say ‘just be better’. The reality of actually fixing things could not be more stark for Reid.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.