Former Chiefs player offers sobering analysis of the team after loss to Raiders
The Chiefs lost more than a game Monday.
With a 20-14 loss to the Raiders on Christmas Day, the Chiefs also lost a chance to clinch the AFC West title and a chance to be the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.
The Chiefs’ record dropped to 9-6 and they can win the division with a win in either of their two final games (vs. Bengals on Sunday; at Chargers in Week 18). But they likely won’t be a top-two seed in the AFC postseason for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes Era.
Mahomes’ former teammate Mitchell Schwartz offered a sobering analysis of the Chiefs following Monday’s game.
“This is the most surprising Chiefs game I’ve seen since I came here,” Schwartz wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Not a good team right now (imagine if we had this effort against an actually good team) and getting worse. Still have hope but at this point it’s irrational hope. This is who we are.”
Ballgame. This is the most surprising Chiefs game I’ve seen since I came here. Not a good team right now (imagine if we had this effort against an actually good team) and getting worse. Still have hope but at this point it’s irrational hope. This is who we are.
— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) December 25, 2023
Mahomes believes the Chiefs have it in them to turn things around.
“I think if we clean it up, we can beat anyone,” Mahomes told reporters after Monday’s game. “I truly believe that but we have to prove that we can do that.”
And a fan pointed out that the Chiefs have lost some head-scratchers over the past few seasons and still had playoff success ... in the past. Schwartz said Monday’s game was worrisome given all that was at stake.
“My point is we’ve already had those bad games,” Schwartz wrote. “And I disregarded those as the occasional stinker. Losing a prime time game at home against your rival when you can clinch the division? That’s the thoroughly shocking part to me.”
My point is we’ve already had those bad games. And I disregarded those as the occasional stinker. Losing a prime time game at home against your rival when you can clinch the division? That’s the thoroughly shocking part to me
— Mitchell Schwartz (@MitchSchwartz71) December 25, 2023
Chiefs fans were discouraged by what they saw Monday. Here is a bit of what they were sharing on X and Reddit.
“The offense is so bad they produce points for the other team,” a fan wrote on Reddit.
Another channeled Jim Mora: “Playoffs?! Don’t talk about—playoffs?! You kidding me? Playoffs?! I just hope we can win a game! Another game!”
agreed
— Morgan Loewenherz (@morganloewenher) December 25, 2023
An absolute organizational embarrassment for the Chiefs today, one that cannot be overstated. I don’t care what Andy Reid or anyone else has to say after the game; words are meaningless at this point. This game pounds out in ALL CAPS that significant change must come in the…
— Kurtis Seaboldt (@KSeaboldt) December 25, 2023
“This was a Marty Schottenheimer / Steve DeBerg offense today,” a fan wrote on Reddit.
Another shared this: “This was the worst game I’ve watched the chiefs play in the mahomes era.”
It brings back memories of people not wanting to go to the game when it was cold. And people couldn't give tickets away. Not a good feeling.
— Bill B (@druidbros) December 26, 2023
I was very disappointed in the Chiefs today it doesn’t seem like they are getting better it seems like they are getting worse #ChiefsKingdom #chiefsvsraiders #Chiefs
— papa47 (@papa4711) December 26, 2023
“Welp. What more can be said except what’s been said for weeks. This team ain’t it. Here’s to hoping we have a stellar offseason,” a fan wrote on Reddit.
Another shared this: “(GM Brett) Veach put too much on Mahomes this year. Losing your left tackle, right tackle, best WR and offensive coordinator without any true upgrades is too much to ask.”
Chiefs ain’t a Super Bowl team yeah I’m not getting disappointed anymore ..we got 2 rings but def early exit in January, this year, it is what it is.
I love my chiefs but this team has 0 accountability without EB! Forget the weapon excuses, can’t blame the refs #ChiefsKingdom— B-rad (@VolChiefMan31) December 25, 2023
Biggest concern for me after this game is that it was the OL that looked terrible. Feels more like the offense is coming apart at the seams instead of figuring things out.
Wasting the best defense we've seen in a long time.#Chiefs #ChiefsKingdom— CitadelChief (@citadelchief) December 25, 2023