Outside Kansas City, obituaries for its dynasty are being prepared in anticipation of a passing after the Chiefs fell to 5-5.
However, there is no panic from Andy Reid.
"Yeah, we're not quite as negative as the outside world is here," Reid said half-chuckling, via the team's official transcript. "We know what we need to clean up, and we need to do it. But the guys, they get it. Some of these guys have been through some pretty good seasons, and it isn't like this one's lost. We just got to clean up a few of these things and the urgency level, obviously, we got to make sure we take care of that now."
The 22-19 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 11 marks the latest in a season the Chiefs have been .500 or worse since Patrick Mahomes took over in 2018 -- the previous worst was 4-4 entering Week 9 in 2021.
The comedy of the situation is that the Chiefs are actually playing better than a year ago when they came out on the winning side of a trove of close games to start 10-1 at this stage. This year, the regression to the mean has been stark.
Sunday's loss pushed the Chiefs to 0-5 in one-score games. They're one of three teams to be winless in one-score games in 2025 (also the Saints and Commanders). Kansas City went 12-0 in one-score games in 2024 (including playoffs).
Reid said the key to a late-season turnaround is taking it one game at time.
"I mentioned that to them after the game, actually," he said. "What can you do? (What) you can do is get yourself ready to play Indianapolis. That's what you can do. Everything else is involved with a crystal ball. You can take care of today and tomorrow and the following day. Let's start there."
Kansas City hosts the 8-2 Colts on Sunday in a pivotal home game.
The Chiefs have never lost more than six games with Mahomes under center (worst was 11-6 in 2023).
The 2025 Chiefs are scoring more points, allowing fewer points, winning the turnover margin, and playing better overall on offense compared to last year's squad. The ball isn't bouncing their way at this point.
The devil is in the details.
"You've got to take care of the small things, and that's coaches included," Reid said. "Whether it's volume (or) whether it's fundamentals, you have to take care of those small things and when I tell you I'm responsible for that, I'm responsible for that and then the players have to do the same thing (and) take care of the small things. Why are we having the penalties and then let's fix that and don't point to the officials (and) don't point here or there, take responsibility for it. If it's fundamentals, if you're on the back end and you need to plant and drive, why didn't we do it? Our offensive line, you didn't step with the right foot. All those things, you control, and you have to take care of those things. Small things but they all add up."
The Chiefs are ninth in the AFC playoff picture entering Week 12.
K.C. has lost to all three current Wild Card teams (Bills, Chargers, Jaguars), meaning each of those three holds a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Chiefs in the standings.
