In a disappointing turn of events, Patrick Mahomes experienced his worst performance of the season, leading the Kansas City Chiefs to a 28-21 road loss against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. This defeat marked the end of the Chiefs’ three-game winning streak and showcased significant struggles for Mahomes, the team's three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback and two-time league MVP.
In this game, Mahomes failed to record either a passing or rushing touchdown for the first time since October 7, 2024. He completed just 15 of 34 passes for 250 yards, suffering from one critical interception and being sacked three times. His quarterback rating of 57.2 was the lowest he has achieved since October 20, 2024, when he also did not throw a passing touchdown in a road victory against the San Francisco 49ers.
Despite a late-game push that saw the Chiefs pull within a touchdown courtesy of a 2-yard rushing touchdown by Kareem Hunt and a successful 2-point conversion pass from Mahomes to Travis Kelce, the Chiefs ultimately fell short. With 6:46 remaining, the Chiefs managed to force the Bills to punt, but Mahomes' deep throw on third-and-11 was intercepted by Maxwell Hairston with just 4:27 left on the clock.
With the Bills' kicker, Matt Prater, missing a 52-yard field goal attempt off the left upright with only 22 seconds remaining, the Chiefs had one final opportunity to tie the game. They needed to cover 58 yards for a touchdown, but Mahomes’ last two passes fell incomplete, sealing the Chiefs' fate and leaving them with a disappointing 5-4 record.
The Chiefs' defense came into the game ranked 26th in expected points allowed per run play. However, this weakness had not been fully exposed in recent games, largely due to Kansas City's ability to build commanding leads and force opponents into passing situations. The Buffalo Bills, however, managed to maintain a positive game script, demonstrating more physicality and winning the battle at the line of scrimmage.
Buffalo’s running back, James Cook, exceeded 100 rushing yards, allowing quarterback Josh Allen to effectively exploit another of the Chiefs' defensive vulnerabilities: play action. Allen displayed remarkable efficiency, completing 23 of 26 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown, continuing a troubling trend for the Chiefs. Despite having previous success against Allen in playoff situations, they have struggled to consistently find ways to slow him down in their 10 matchups.
Despite their strong performances over the previous month, the Chiefs' current 5-4 record poses challenges for their potential playoff path. Entering the week, they were already trailing the Denver Broncos in the AFC West and now find themselves two games behind. With a more challenging schedule ahead compared to the Bills (who currently sit at 6-2), the Chiefs may find it difficult to catch up in the AFC standings, especially without the head-to-head tiebreaker.
As the Chiefs faced off against the Bills, they entered the week as one of the healthiest teams in the NFL. However, injuries began to accumulate late in the game, particularly along the offensive line, where they had to rely on three backups for several plays. The upcoming bye week could be crucial for the Chiefs’ recovery, as right tackle Jawaan Taylor (ankle) is expected to have a good chance of returning, along with left tackle Josh Simmons (personal) after the break.
In conclusion, while the Kansas City Chiefs may still be considered one of the top teams in the NFL, this latest loss emphasizes the need for improvements, particularly in their defensive strategies and injury management, as they look to rebound in the coming weeks.
