The Kansas City Chiefs have looked like anything but the dominant team that we have come to known over the past half-decade. If the 2025 season were to end today, Patrick Mahomes and company would finish in 9th place in the AFC, and well out of the postseason picture. But according to the oddsmakers, there is a good chance that they right the ship before the end of the regular season and make it to the playoffs for the 11th straight year.
Chiefs Lose Crucial Game Against Denver In Week 11
The season has been a rollercoaster ride for the Chiefs thus far in 2025. After limping out to a 2-3 start, Kansas City won three convincing games in a row to push their record to 5-3, during which time they became Super Bowl favorites once again. But two losses in two very important contests in recent weeks have given them plenty of cause for concern.
The Denver Broncos are the best team in the AFC. It’s real simple.
They’ve won 8 straight. They’ve beaten both Super Bowl teams (Eagles + Chiefs). Their 2 losses are by a combined 4 points. They have a Super Bowl head coach and a killer defense.
The Broncos should be feared.
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) November 17, 2025
First, they lost to the Buffalo Bills in Week 9. There wasn’t much panic, given that Josh Allen and company typically get the best of the Chiefs in the regular season, which is usually followed by the opposite result in the postseason. But the loss dropped Kansas City to 5-4 on the season, and put them on the fringes of the playoff picture.
This past Sunday’s result was even more concerning. The Denver Broncos entered the day with a 2.5 game lead over their mighty division foes in the AFC West, and a loss would have put their chase in jeopardy. Instead, the Broncos pulled off a hard-fought victory in one of the marquee games of the day, solidifying themselves in the standings.
Kansas City’s Playoff Hopes Are Now In Jeopardy
Now, the Broncos are 3.5 games up on the Chiefs in the division, a difference that appears nearly insurmountable, and will likely end Kansas City’s nine-year run of AFC West championships. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Denver is listed as a heavy -350 favorite to take the division, with both the Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers listed all the way back at +550.
Nothing would bring this country together more than if the chiefs missed the playoffs.
— Leland (@TennLeland) November 16, 2025
Also on the odds board at DraftKings is a simple question of whether or not the Chiefs will qualify for the postseason. The “No” option currently has a designation of +150, which carries implied odds of 40%. “Yes” is at -185 (64.9%).
Things won’t get much easier for Kansas City. Their next game will be played against the Indianapolis Colts, who are one of five NFL teams with 2 or fewer losses so far this season. They’ll then be on a short week to take on the Dallas Cowboys in front of a national audience on Thanksgiving Day.
