Chiefs’ Latest Loss Could Spell End Of Tom Brady-Related Streak

The AFC title picture could look far different if the Kansas City Chiefs don’t salvage their season.

Kansas City is in serious danger of missing the playoffs following Sunday night’s 20-10 loss to the Houston Texans. The Chiefs fell to 6-7, placing them two games behind Houston for the conference’s final wild-card spot with four weeks remaining.

Barring a steep turn, an extended streak involving the New England Patriots will end. Josh Dubow of the Associated Press noted that Patrick Mahomes or Tom Brady has played in every AFC Championship Game since the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the New York Jets for a Super Bowl bid in the 2010 playoffs.

Brady led the Patriots to eight consecutive AFC title games from 2011-18, ending that run by eliminating the Chiefs in Mahomes’ first postseason. Mahomes has taken Kansas City to the AFC Championship Game in all seven seasons as the starting quarterback.

That decorated run may end in an unceremonious fashion. ESPN’s Football Power Index gives Kansas City a 16.4 percent chance of making the playoffs.

Missing the postseason would be a shocking outcome for a team that’s replaced Brady’s Patriots as the newest NFL dynasty. Kansas City’s nine-season streak as AFC West champions is already over, as Andy Reid’s team can’t catch up to the 11-2 Denver Broncos.

Mahomes or Brady may not vie for a Super Bowl ticket, but that doesn’t mean the AFC Championship Game won’t involve the Chiefs of Patriots. New England can clinch the AFC East with a Week 15 win over the Buffalo Bills.