The longest division-winning streak in the AFC has officially met its end.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ reign over the AFC West has concluded, as their shocking 20-10 defeat to the Houston Texans on Sunday night mathematically eliminated them from winning the division title.
For the first time since 2015-a span of nine consecutive years-the division crown will not belong to the Chiefs, who have dropped to a stunning 6-7 record after losing four of their last five games.
The nine-year streak was the second-longest division title run in NFL history, surpassed only by the New England Patriots’ 11-year run from 2009 to 2019. The national story is less about the loss itself and more about the stunning fall of the reigning AFC champions.
The divisional title will now go to either Denver or Los Angeles
The nail in the coffin came at Arrowhead Stadium, where Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ high-powered offense were stifled by the league’s No. 1 defense.
Mahomes, the two-time MVP, was held to just 10 points and intercepted twice as the surging Texans earned their fifth straight win and slid into the playoff picture.
The AFC West crown will now be fought for by the two teams who finally managed to catch up to Kansas City: the Denver Broncos (11-2) and the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4).
For years, the Chiefs benefited from a relatively weak division, with the Raiders, Chargers, and Broncos combining for only six total playoff appearances in the last decade.
Even the Chiefs’ chances of making the playoffs are slim
That era is definitely over. The Broncos, led by second-year quarterback Bo Nix and a shutdown defense, have been dominant this season, while the Chargers have proved a worthy competitor in Jim Harbaugh’s second year at the helm.
With the division title out of reach, the Chiefs’ dynasty is now struggling just to survive. The team’s playoff chances are now mathematically considered “thin.”
Kansas City must be nearly perfect over the remainder of the season and rely on external help to avoid missing the postseason completely for the first time in the Mahomes era.
