Broncos Legend Makes Telling Admission About Chiefs’ Struggles as Patrick Mahomes Faces Tough Challenge

Is the Chiefs’ dynasty ending? 

A question haunting many and a nagging fear gripping Chiefs Kingdom. The Chiefs had chances to win both games, but missteps cost them dearly. Defensive tackle Chris Jones made a critical mistake against the Chargers. Then, star tight end Travis Kelce’s costly drop in the end zone sealed the loss to the Eagles. These miscues have thrown the Chiefs into unfamiliar territory. Last place in the AFC West for the first time in years. Uncharted waters for a team that defined dominance in the Patrick Mahomes era. But a Broncos legend and proud Chiefs hater at heart sees things a bit differently.

Mark Schlereth didn’t hold back his feelings about the Chiefs’ rocky start during a recent chat with Rich Eisen. “I don’t think they’re dire. I think the Chiefs are still a damn good football team. It’s just been so long. It’s been like a long, dry walk through the desert. Especially if you’re an AFC West fan of anybody other than the Chiefs. So, it’s just good old-fashioned sports hate, and I have a lot of it for the Chiefs.” For Schlereth, the hate for the Chiefs is real, but still, he isn’t jumping to doomsday conclusions. He added, “I have a ton of respect for them and what they’ve been able to accomplish.” 

Schlereth highlighted key positives that could turn things around. “They’re going to get players back. Rashee Rice will come back, eventually. Like, I love what they did in the draft. Like the Josh Simmons kid. He was my favorite player coming out. Like my favorite offensive lineman of all the guys I studied. I think he’s incredibly gifted. I know he had the patellar tendon issue coming out and tore it in at Ohio State, but that kid is so freaking talented. He’s so good. I don’t know what the report on Worthy is, when he’ll be back, but the demise of the Chiefs, I think, is greatly overexaggerated.” The Chiefs have been crippled by the loss of deep threats Rashee Rice (six-game suspension) and Xavier Worthy (dislocated shoulder).

Their offense looks like a shell of itself, forcing Mahomes to scramble for yards. Mahomes is hauling in over half the ground yards for the Chiefs this season — 56.2% to be exact — the third-highest ratio any quarterback has had through two games in the Super Bowl era. In fact, the recent trend marks the first time since Mahomes’ college days that Kansas City has lost three consecutive games, including the Super Bowl rematch.

Patrick Mahomes ranks 29th in completion percentage (58.8%) and 22nd in yards per attempt (6.5), while the offense sits 25th in scoring at 19.0 points per game. Defensively, Kansas City allows 23.5 points per game (19th) with a concerning minus-7.1 defensive EPA per 100 snaps (23rd). While the Chiefs likely aren’t finished, these numbers suggest they no longer dominate the AFC landscape as they once did.

Still, Schlereth pointed out the silver linings amid the chaos. “I think they’ll be fine. They will eventually win a game, and at the end of the year, I believe they’ll be right back in the thick of things.” The Chiefs are struggling with playmakers on their roster, and for the first time, Mahomes seems human, not invincible. But the next question that comes to mind is: Can Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs defy the long odds and make the playoffs?

Can Patrick Mahomes lead the Chiefs to the playoffs?

Historically, starting 0-2 makes postseason qualification a long shot — just under a 12% chance since the league’s expanded playoff format. But the Chiefs aren’t just any team. They are the only franchise to have appeared in three straight Super Bowls in this era. Oddsmakers at BetMGM put their playoff chances around 65%, while some models hint closer to a coin flip.

However, making the playoffs is one thing; winning a Super Bowl after a 0-2 start is another altogether. Only three teams since the merger — Dallas in ‘93, New England in 2001, and the Giants in 2007 — have pulled off that feat. Kansas City’s dominance of nine straight division titles now seems under threat with the Chargers leading the AFC West. The Chiefs’ odds of winning the division have plunged to +250 — their worst since Mahomes’ rookie season in 2018.

Despite all this, Mahomes and company are fighting a familiar fight. Even with role players down and offensive struggles, the Chiefs have never been shy about battling back from adversity. With 15 games left, the season is far from over. Just ask any Chiefs fan: hope’s not lost until the final whistle blows.