Mahomes Takes the Blame: Chiefs See Divisional Dreams Fade

Mahomes Takes Responsibility After Chiefs’ Loss to Broncos

After congratulating quarterback Bo Nix near midfield following the Broncos’ last-second victory on Sunday, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes walked away without saying anything before entering the visitors’ locker room at Empower Field. Once there, Mahomes remained silent. When he got to the podium for his press conference, he used his voice to take much of the blame for the Chiefs’ 22-19 defeat, a result that tied the team’s record at 5-5.

I think we’re very talented and have a lot of great players, but it’s about being more consistent. I think it starts with me. There are times when I’m throwing and we’re moving the ball down the field with ease. But there are times when we get into stretches where I miss a throw or a protection call.

Patrick Mahomes

Throughout Sunday’s game, Mahomes was never able to get into a rhythm against the Broncos’ defense. One of the biggest examples occurred in the Chiefs’ first series. Mahomes missed two long passes where speedy receivers Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton were open downfield. The pass to Worthy was off by 3 yards. If they had connected, Worthy could have scored on a 61-yard reception.

I just have to make the throw. There’s no other way to do it. The play was designed for Travis (Kelce) — and I think Travis is wide open — but you have these alerts in your plays and how safety Brandon Jones was positioned with Xavier’s speed, I knew I was going to have a chance downfield. I just have to give him a chance. I missed that one.

Patrick Mahomes

Before the game, the Chiefs hoped that a win after their bye week would give them the opportunity to chase the Broncos (9-2) and keep alive their hopes for a tenth consecutive AFC West title. But now they only have a 10% chance of winning the division, according to Next Gen Stats, whose playoff probability model simulated the rest of the season 10,000 times.

The Chiefs are also not favored to win the AFC West. Their odds of +500 are the longest to win the division since 2015, two years before Mahomes joined the team.

It’s going to be difficult to get back in the division race. The goal is to make the playoffs and try to make a run. We have to learn from this as much as possible, knowing that we’re going to have a great opponent (the Indianapolis Colts) coming to Arrowhead (Stadium) next week.

Patrick Mahomes

The Chiefs are at a point where they have to find a way to win games. At the start of this season, the NFL has had 989 teams in the Super Bowl era that started 5-5 or worse after 10 games. Only 89 of those teams (9%) made the playoffs and only two made it to the Super Bowl. The only team that won the Super Bowl was the 2001 New England Patriots, led by first-year starting quarterback Tom Brady.

It’s just a one-week mindset. I mean, every week is getting to the point where it’s like a playoff week. We have to find a way to win one game at a time.

Nick Bolton

A bad decision by Mahomes in the third quarter made the Chiefs’ chances of beating the Broncos more difficult. With the Chiefs in the red zone, instead of throwing the ball out of bounds after running, which would have set up a short field goal for kicker Harrison Butker, Mahomes attempted a pass to running back Elijah Mitchell, only for cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian to intercept it. In their subsequent possession, the Broncos capitalized and scored their only touchdown.

You can’t make that play. I just didn’t throw it high enough. (McMillian) jumped up and made a good play. I’ve made that throw before, but with the type of game we’re in, don’t put the ball in jeopardy. Take the three points and move on to the next possession.

Patrick Mahomes

The Chiefs’ five losses this season have come in games decided by a single score (decided by eight points or less). Before this season, the Chiefs had won 17 consecutive games decided by a single score, including the playoffs, which was the longest streak in NFL history. The Chiefs understand that, at some point, they might have to win a close game, or two or three, to secure a playoff spot.

When you’re playing against good teams, whether I make a call or the players play, you have to do the right thing. You put the guys in the right position and then the guys have to make plays when given the opportunity. That’s on both sides of the ball.

Andy Reid

The only difference on Sunday compared to the Chiefs’ previous four losses was that Mahomes was given the ball with four minutes remaining and the opportunity to lead a drive to win the game. But they never gained a first down or a yard. Mahomes’ last drop, on third and 10, ended with him being sacked by McMillian. That’s what you want, you want that opportunity at the end of the game. I didn’t make it. I’ve been in that situation before. You get that first down, it puts us in the driver’s seat. I didn’t find it there and they made a good blitz on that third down. I didn’t give myself much of an opportunity.