TheKansas City Chiefs' bid to win a 10th consecutive AFC West title officially came to an end in Week 14. This Sunday, they could be officially eliminated from playoff contention entirely for the first time since 2014, head coach Andy Reid's second season with the organization.
K.C., which has advanced to the past three Super Bowls and five of the last six, hosts the division rivalLos Angeles Chargersat Arrowhead Stadium in Week 15, the game set to kick off at 1 p.m. ET. Here's what's at stake for a team on life support − for 2025 anyway − even if it might be premature to bury theChiefs' dynastic reign.
Week 5: Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel makes a catch against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium. The Bills wore their new "Rivalries" uniform for the "Sunday Night Football" game, which the Patriots won, 23-20." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Week 5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield awaits the snap against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Both teams wore throwback uniforms in the Buccaneers' 38-35 win. The Buccaneers and Seahawks entered the NFL together as expansion teams in 1976." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Week 4: Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) hands the ball off to running back J.K. Dobbins during the "Monday Night Football" game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Empower Field at Mile High. The Broncos wore their "Midnight Navy" uniforms for the 28-3 win." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Week 4: Miami Dolphins running back De'von Achane rushes the ball against the New York Jets during a 27-21 win on "Monday Night Football" at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins wore their new their Nike "Rivalries" uniforms – the team version dubbed "Dark Waters."" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Week 4: The Arizona Cardinals defense tackles Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) during the first quarter of a "Thursday Night Football" game at State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals became the first NFL team to wear the new Nike "Rivalries" uniform in a game. The Seahawks won the game, 23-20." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Week 3: New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (5) stiff arms Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) during the second quarter at Lumen Field. The Saints wore their all-white uniform and helmet combo for the first time in the 44-13 loss." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Week 3: San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey carries the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers wore throwback jerseys - an homage to the team's 1950s look, as well as its 1994 Super Bowl-winning season - in the 16-15 win against the Cardinals." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Week 2: Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) runs the ball against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. Sporting "The Vikings Classic" throwback uniform inspired by the team's look during the 1960s and '70s, Minnesota was defeated, 22-6." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Can the Chiefs be eliminated Sunday?
The short answer: Yes. Here's the simplest scenario that ends the postseason aspirations for Kansas City, which enters Sunday with a 6-7 record:
▶ Lose to the Chargers
▶Billsbeat the Patriots
▶ Two teams among theTexans,Coltsand/orJaguarswin.
There are other outcomes that involve ties that could lead to the same result, but the above formula is the most straightforward. Among Kansas City's multiple issues this season are the teams they've already lost to: Chargers, Jaguars, Bills,Broncosand Texans −all of them currently above the Chiefsin the overall AFC standings.
When was the last time the Chiefs lost eight games?
Kansas City went 2-14 in 2012, the season before Reid was hired. That was also the organization's last sub-.500 finish. Going into 2025, Reid had never lost more than seven games in the regular season with this club.
When was the last time the Chiefs missed the AFC championship game?
That would be 2017, QBPatrick Mahomes' rookie season. He started just once that year, sitting for most of it behind veteran Alex Smith. Kansas City lost in the wild-card round that season to theTennessee Titans, who were led at the time by QB Marcus Mariota and RB Derrick Henry − and managed to engineer a 22-21 upset at Arrowhead.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Chiefs' playoff elimination scenario: What has to happen Sunday?
