{"id":903511,"date":"2026-11-02T18:54:18","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T18:54:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/903511\/"},"modified":"2026-11-02T18:54:18","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T18:54:18","slug":"the-kansas-city-chiefs-are-searching-for-answers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/903511\/","title":{"rendered":"The Kansas City Chiefs are searching for answers"},"content":{"rendered":"

DENVER \u2014 A blowout loss followed by a fourth-quarter collapse in consecutive road games has sent the Kansas City Chiefs<\/a> into a tailspin, and what comes next for the team of the decade is anyone\u2019s guess.<\/p>\n

The franchise that has dominated the NFL since quarterback Patrick Mahomes became its leader eight years ago is searching for answers after squandering a late 11-point lead Sunday night in a 28-24 loss to the Denver Broncos.<\/p>\n

After Denver scored 15 consecutive points in the game\u2019s final nine minutes \u2014 including a go-ahead touchdown with 1:56 remaining \u2014 it appeared Mahomes had engineered another of his signature come-from-behind wins that, along with Super Bowl championships, have defined his career to this point.<\/p>\n

In what would have been a fitting closing act to one of his best performances of the season, Mahomes deftly marched the Chiefs to the Broncos\u2019 1-yard line. On fourth down with four seconds to go, Mahomes connected with wide receiver Rashee Rice in the end zone as time expired, igniting a celebration along the Chiefs\u2019 sideline.<\/p>\n

Ah, not so fast.<\/p>\n

Officials called a false start on Chiefs right tackle Jaylon Moore, nullifying the apparent game-winning touchdown. The penalty pushed the Chiefs back 5 yards and added four seconds to the clock. Kansas City failed to capitalize on its final play; Mahomes was sacked to end the game.<\/p>\n

Head coach Andy Reid preferred the outcome of the Chiefs\u2019 first play on fourth down.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t see it,\u201d Reid said of the false start. \u201cOne man\u2019s opinion. I saw him [Moore] move his head, but I didn\u2019t see [a false start].\u201d<\/p>\n

Most of the 76,831 fans at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium lingered to celebrate a big Week 8 win over the Broncos\u2019 visiting AFC West rival, elevating the Broncos (6-2) to the top of the division. Denver has won four straight games to strengthen its position approaching the midpoint of the season.<\/p>\n

And the Chiefs, well, they\u2019re headed in the opposite direction. Their 11 penalties for 105 yards certainly didn\u2019t help against the Broncos.<\/p>\n

\"AndyAndy Reid\u2019s Kansas City Chiefs squandering a late 11-point lead as the Denver Broncos came back for a 28-24 victory.<\/p>\n

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

In seasons past, the Chiefs would have made the plays needed to win Sunday. Their history has created that expectation.<\/p>\n

Although they played much better than they did in their Week 7 flop against the Seattle Seahawks<\/a>, the Chiefs have lost their way after a fast start this season. On the other hand, they have successfully navigated bumpy roads at various times throughout their long run of excellence. Anyone who chooses to overlook them does so at their own peril.<\/p>\n

Clearly, Mahomes knows things aren\u2019t going well for the Chiefs. It\u2019s not in his nature to sugarcoat that.<\/p>\n

But when you\u2019ve won three Super Bowl championships and amassed a long list of other accomplishments, there\u2019s a deep well of belief to draw from.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, obviously it\u2019s a big game. I\u2019m not going to hide from that. Now, you\u2019re kind of in a dogfight for the division,\u201d Mahomes said. \u201cYou just try to get better and better, so at the end of the year you\u2019re playing your best football. \u2026 We\u2019ve lost these last two games against two good football teams. We\u2019ll learn from it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tRelated Story<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tThe Kansas City Chiefs\u2019 dynasty: Over or on hold? \u2013 Andscape\t\t\t\tRead now
\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

Early against the Broncos, the Chiefs showed they had learned from their humbling experience last week in Seattle.<\/p>\n

They were much sharper than in their previous game \u2014 especially their best player.<\/p>\n

With Rice and Moore back in the starting lineup after being sidelined against the Seahwaks due to injuries, Mahomes appeared more comfortable in the pocket and directing the offense. He went 30-for-41 for 321 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. <\/p>\n

It was his second game this year with more than 300 passing yards and three touchdowns, coming eight weeks into his first season back after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery last December.<\/p>\n

With less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter, Mahomes teamed with tight end Noah Gray on a 4-yard touchdown pass that helped the Chiefs take a 24-13 lead. But the Broncos were undeterred.<\/p>\n

Denver quarterback Bo Nix led two touchdown drives, and the Broncos added a 2-point conversion to take a 28-24 lead. Meanwhile, struggling Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker missed a 54-yard field goal that would have given the visitors a 27-21 lead with 2:36 remaining.<\/p>\n

More on Butker in a moment.<\/p>\n

Following the Broncos\u2019 final touchdown, the Chiefs got a 44-yard kickoff return from rookie running back Emmett Johnson, who had a breakout game with 128 receiving yards on five catches, including a spectacular 73-yard catch-and-run touchdown.<\/p>\n

Mahomes needed just seven plays to lead the Chiefs to the Broncos\u2019 1-yard line. Then, he connected with Rice on what appeared to be a walk-off touchdown as time expired. Or so he thought.<\/p>\n

Like Reid, Mahomes didn\u2019t notice anything significant on the false start called on Moore.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have not seen it [on film]. But it didn\u2019t catch me,\u201d the 31-year-old quarterback said. \u201cLike, it [Moore\u2019s movement] didn\u2019t surprise me or catch me or anything like that. So it couldn\u2019t have been big, but it was called.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, at the end of the day, you have to go with whatever is called. But a lot of times in those big moments, the little stuff doesn\u2019t get called.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"HarrisonKicker Harrison Butker has missed 16 kicks (11 attempted field goals and five PATs) since the start of last season.<\/p>\n

AP Photo\/David Zalubowski<\/p>\n

Of course, Butker missing the field goal \u2014 which has happened too often lately \u2014 changed the Chiefs\u2019 strategy on their last possession. Instead of needing a touchdown, they could have won on a walk-off field goal.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust missed it,\u201d Butker said. \u201c[I] didn\u2019t even give it a chance. \u2026 When I say bad miss, like just completely missed the ball. Didn\u2019t even give it a chance. Didn\u2019t feel good off the foot. Just not good.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cMight have been one of my best weeks of practice,\u201d he added. \u201c\u2026 It was a good week of practice, but doesn\u2019t matter \u2014 you\u2019ve got to make them in the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

A key contributor to the Chiefs\u2019 success during the Mahomes era, Butker has missed 16 kicks (11 attempted field goals and five PATs) since the start of last season \u2014 the most in the NFL during that span, according to research by The Associated Press.<\/p>\n

Concerned by the 10-year veteran\u2019s prolonged struggles, the Chiefs made the controversial move last week to sign five-time All-Pro kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad. Tucker did not play last season while serving a 10-game suspension for violating the NFL\u2019s personal conduct policy.<\/p>\n

The former Baltimore Ravens\u2019 standout was accused of sexual misconduct by 16 massage therapists from eight high-end spas and wellness centers in the Baltimore area, according to The Baltimore Banner. The alleged misconduct reportedly occurred from 2012-16, during Tucker\u2019s first five seasons with the Ravens.<\/p>\n

Chiefs fans roundly criticized the signing. After Butker disappointed yet again Sunday, however, the team may make the even more unpopular move of actually replacing him with Tucker.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a whole lot happening with the Chiefs. And make no mistake, most of it isn\u2019t great.<\/p>\n

Jason Reid is the senior NFL writer at Andscape. He enjoys watching sports, especially any games involving his son and daughter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"DENVER \u2014 A blowout loss followed by a fourth-quarter collapse in consecutive road games has sent the Kansas…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":903512,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[99],"class_list":["post-903511","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/903511","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=903511"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/903511\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/903512"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=903511"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=903511"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=903511"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}