Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs stumble in pursuit of Brady’s milestone

The Buffalo Bills handed the Kansas City Chiefs a 30-21 loss on Sunday evening, ending their 15-game winning streak. The defeat dashed Kansas City’s hopes of surpassing the Patriots' legendary streak of 21 consecutive victories, achieved during the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

Back in 2003, Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick led the Patriots to a flawless finish, winning their final 12 regular-season games and sweeping through the playoffs to claim the Super Bowl. The title game ended with a 41-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri, sealing a dramatic 32-29 win over the Carolina Panthers. New England carried that momentum into the 2004 season, opening with six straight victories, including wins over the Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks. Their streak, however, came to an end in Week 8 with a 34-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field.

Rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger spearheaded the Steelers’ victory, outdueling Brady to hand the Patriots their first loss in over a year. Yet, New England rebounded decisively later that season, exacting revenge with a commanding 41-27 win over Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship. They capped the year with another Super Bowl title, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles to solidify their dynasty.

Chiefs fall short of history, but playoff dominance continues

This marks the second straight year that Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills have defeated Mahomes and the Chiefs during the regular season. However, Buffalo has yet to replicate that success in the postseason, where Kansas City’s dominance remains unbroken.

Kansas City’s recent run wasn’t without challenges. Last season, the Chiefs were stunned at home on Christmas Day in a 20-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Antonio Pierce’s defense wreaked havoc, forcing two interceptions from Mahomes and sacking him four times at Arrowhead Stadium. Reflecting on the loss, Travis Kelce admitted it was a wake-up call: “We handed that team a win on Christmas. We literally played Santa and gave them a present.”

Kelce further described the experience as “embarrassing” and a “frustrating f--king experience.” Reflecting on his emotional sideline outburst during the game, he admitted, in an expletive filled reflection, that he had to be “more accountable for him and be more accountable for my teammates.”

The Chiefs though quickly regrouped, closing the season with wins over the Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and Baltimore Ravens. Their resilience paid off with a Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers, cementing their status as back-to-back champions.

Which team has achieved a perfect season in the NFL?

Achieving perfection in the NFL remains elusive. Of the 33 teams to start a season 9-0, only seven have gone on to win the Super Bowl. The 1972 Miami Dolphins remain the league’s only team to finish a season undefeated.

Kansas City now looks ahead to a matchup against the Carolina Panthers, a team struggling with a 3-7 record. The Chiefs, eager to bounce back from their loss to Buffalo, are heavily favored to return to form as they prepare to defend their title.