The Kansas City Chiefs entered Week 14 with a narrow path to the postseason. After a 20-10 defeat at home to the Houston Texans on Sunday night, that path has grown extremely steep.

Their playoff probability has plummeted, and what once looked like a tough climb now feels more like a steep climb up Everest.

Sunday’s loss at Arrowhead Stadium dropped Kansas City‘s record to 6-7, their worst through 13 games since 2012.

The result also officially ended the Chiefs‘ streak of division titles in the AFC West, a stretch that had lasted nine consecutive seasons.

For a franchise that has defined the past decade with consistency, this feels like a pivotal turning point.

What went wrong

Houston‘s defense delivered a clinic all night. The NFL‘s topranked unit turned a game that could’ve been a makeorbreak win for Kansas City into a grim reality check. Three interceptions, relentless pressure, and multiple stymied drives turned the tide in Houston‘s favor.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was harassed all evening behind an offensive line missing key starters. He completed just 14 of 33 passes for 160 yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions.

Meanwhile the Chiefs‘ offense managed only 98 firsthalf yards and went into halftime scoreless.

Even when Kansas City clawed back in the third quarter, a touchdown run by Kareem Hunt followed by a field goal to tie it, the momentum evaporated in the fourth quarter thanks to two failed fourthdown attempts and an interception.

The loss showcased a team beset by injuries, underperforming pass catchers, and a collapsing offensive line, a harsh reality for a squad that’s used to contending.

Playoff chances now: long shot at best

Before Week 14, some analysts still saw a path: a win over Houston followed by wins against the Los Angeles Chargers and other lowertier teams could get the job done.

After Sunday’s loss, those projections are all but gone.

The defeat dropped the Chiefs‘ postseason probability to roughly 16%.

And with four games remaining, including a likely tough matchup against the Denver Broncos, the odds that Kansas City can win out and get enough help from other teams seem very slim.

Unless everything goes perfectly their way, including losses by multiple other contenders, the Chiefs‘ 2025 postseason hopes appear dangerously close to slipping away.

The loss to Houston isn’t just another defeat on the ledger. It marks a possible end to an era of dominance in Kansas City.

Amid injuries, miscues, and a defense that’s no longer lightsout, the Chiefs face a playoff drought for the first time in over a decade, and maybe the toughest months of their current window.