The Kansas City Chiefs fell short of the playoffs in a disastrous 2025 season, and an early prediction of the coming year brings another warning for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
The Chiefs failed to follow up on their three consecutive Super Bowl appearances, struggling throughout the 2025 season before the wheels fell off when Mahomes was injured in December. The team now faces a long offseason and an uncertain timeline for Mahomes to recover, leading to a dire prediction in the first power rankings of the coming NFL year.
Chiefs Could Struggle to Make Playoffs Again
In a power ranking of the 2026 season published just minutes after the Seattle Seahawks finished off the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, ESPN’s Nate Taylor predicted the Chiefs would face some big obstacles.
The outlet ranked the Chiefs at No. 12, which would likely put them on the fringes of playoff contention. Taylor wrote that the Chiefs face a big challenge in bringing a new infusion of talent around Mahomes.
“While quarterback Patrick Mahomes rehabs his left knee, coach Andy Reid and general manager Brett Veach have to improve the roster to better support their quarterback,” Taylor wrote. “The Chiefs need to have an offseason similar to 2022, which continued the franchise’s dynastic run. With a rare top-10 draft pick, they have the opportunity to acquire a difference-maker. With proper youth and the right veterans acquired, the Chiefs can restart their quest for another Super Bowl.”
But the Chiefs would have plenty of competition. The power ranking put the Patriots at No. 2, while the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills also reached the top five.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Chiefs Face Clear Patrick Mahomes Warning After Super Bowl appeared first on Heavy Sports.