The Kansas City Chiefs’ 20-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was a slow bleed.

Every “would’ve, could’ve, should’ve” stacked up into another gut punch. For the first time in the No. 15 era, Kansas City has dropped three straight with quarterback Patrick Mahomes (dating back to Super Bowl 59). And here’s the reality check: the Chiefs are 0-2 for the first time since 2014, only the second time since head coach Andy Reid took over.

The nine-time division champs are sitting alone at the bottom of the AFC West. The crown feels heavier than ever. This is what a Super Bowl hangover really looks like.

Missed chances piling up and a fourth-down gamble that didn’t pay off. Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated didn’t hold back when he summed up Week 2. On X, he dropped the line that cuts deeper than any box score:

“🏈 Chiefs are not elite anymore.”

And if Sunday was any indication, he’s right.

Manzano pointed out the obvious: The Chiefs looked “helpless whenever the Eagles had a short-yardage situation.”

He’s not wrong when he noted that Philly didn’t even flinch when quarterback Jalen Hurts was ruled short in the fourth quarter near the goal line. Why would they? On the very next snap, Hurts carved his way in for a touchdown and a 20–10 cushion with 7:48 left in regulation.

For the Chiefs, Manzano said it best:

“They probably longed for the days when teams settled for field goals instead of going for it on fourth down.”

That’s not the fear factor of old Kansas City. It’s the sound of an empire slipping.

Even Patrick Mahomes’ throwing a 49-yard touchdown pass in the final three minutes didn’t rattle Philly.

“The game was practically over at that point and there wasn’t much hope for Kansas City even after Patrick Mahomes finally connected on a deep ball,” Manzano noted.

He further added how “contenders aren’t losing sleep over Mahomes throwing bombs to Tyquan Thornton, not when the Chiefs are being bullied at the line of scrimmage.”

And the dagger?

“Not when Travis Kelce is making more mistakes than plays.”

Kelce’s brutal drop at the goal line turned into a 41-yard interception return from Eagles rookie safety Andrew Mukuba. So now, the guy who has bailed out the Chiefs practically every Sunday is suddenly part of the problem.

Manzano wrapped his analysis with the line Chiefs Kingdom won’t want to hear.

“These Chiefs can still—maybe—put fear into opponents. Just not against the big, bad Eagles, who clearly have their number.”

The receipts don’t lie. It’s just Philly’s latest masterclass — this time sealed with the infamous Tush Push that drained Kansas City’s hope. Patrick Mahomes’ stat line (187 yards, one touchdown, one interception, plus 66 rushing yards and a score) was more like a survival.

The real headline? This offense is sputtering.

Chiefs’ road ahead looks harsher than ever

Back in 2022, the Chiefs were the gold standard, scoring 29.2 points per game. The best in the NFL. The past two seasons have dragged Kansas City into the middle of the pack, averaging 22.6 in 2023 and 21.8 in 2024, barely clinging to 15th in the league.

And then there’s the déjà vu nightmare. Losing to the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX was already a scar. But the Sunday showdown was a tougher pill to swallow.

Andy Reid didn’t sugarcoat it.

“Keep playing hard. I’ll take this one. Keep playing hard. So, stick together and play hard.”

A coach trying to keep his team’s belief alive while knowing deep down that the cracks are widening. Kansas City’s best chance came early in the fourth. Mahomes had finally found rhythm, orchestrating a 14-play, 74-yard march that drained over eight minutes off the clock.

But then, the slip. Kelce couldn’t haul in the pass in the end zone, and momentum withered on the spot.

Mahomes protected his long-time target after the game.

“I threw it a tad too early,” the QB said. “If I could put it on his body, he can catch it, take the hit, and get into the end zone.”

Even in failure, he doubled down on his trust in Kelce, the teammate who’s bailed him out a hundred times before. But with Baltimore, Detroit, Washington, and Buffalo next on the calendar, faith alone won’t patch the leaks.