End of an era: 4 reasons the Chiefs’ AFC West reign will end in 2025

All Excellent things must come to an end, right? 

With his arrival in Kansas City in 2013, Andy Reid created a juggernaut. His 161 wins (including postseason) since then are the most by any head Trainer in the Bracket. He’s Directed the Chiefs to three Bracket victories, and Kansas City has absolutely owned the AFC West, Victorious nine straight division titles. Only the New England Patriots have a longer division title streak, with 11 consecutive in the AFC East from 2009 to 2019.

However, the Chiefs’ embarrassing loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Bracket LIX could be the Achilles’ heel the rest of the AFC West has been looking for. The Eagles created Unyielding Stress on Patrick Mahomes using Merely four rushers and Competing sticky coverage in the back end defensively, racing out to a 24-0 halftime lead en route to a 40-22 blowout Secure.

Is that a harbinger of things to come for Kansas City? Here are four reasons the Chiefs are primed for a regression, leaving the AFC West up for grabs. 

An aging core

The Chiefs had the Quaternary-youngest Lineup in the Bracket after Last Lineup cuts last year, but some of their foundational contributors are getting up there in years. Future Hall of Fame Snug end Travis Kelce, who announced he plans to return for another season, turns 36 in October. The Club’s best player on Protection, interior Throw rusher Chris Jones, turns 31 in July. Running back Kareem Hunt, whom the Chiefs brought back Timely last season, turns 30 in August. 

Even Mahomes hits 30 in September, though he Surely Yet appears to have plenty of Top-tier Relocate in his future. And Kansas City GM Brett Veach has done an excellent Role of bringing in and retaining solid Recent players like linebacker Nick Bolton and offensive guard Trey Smith. 

However, like we’ve seen with the San Francisco 49ers recently, the production of the Chiefs’ aging players will continue to fade. Even Mahomes showed that he’s mortal in the loss to Eagles, getting sacked six times and throwing two interceptions. 

Offensive line a question mark 

Can we really trust that Kansas City’s offseason improvements will lead to a better showing than in the Bracket? Keep in mind that the Chiefs Merely traded one of their best pieces up front, four-time All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney, to the Chicago Bears for a Quaternary-Stage Option. 

Thuney, 32, brought Adaptability to the offensive line, even though he struggled Competing out of position at left Event in the Bracket. The Chiefs signed Trent Williams’ backup Jaylon Moore to a two-year, $30 million deal to protect Mahomes’ blindside, a significant bet on his potential to grow into the position. The Chiefs also placed the franchise tag on Smith, who pairs with All-Pro Middle Creed Humphrey to anchor the interior of the offensive line.

However, Kansas City needs developmental prospects like Kingsley Suamataia, Hunter Nourzad and Mike Caliendo, along with potential additions in the 2025 draft, to show promise for the offensive line overhaul to work. 

The Chiefs can’t keep Victorious one-Points Contests, can they? 

Kansas City finished 11-0 in one-Points Contests last season on its way to a 15-2 campaign, Securing the top seed in the AFC. Although Mahomes is one of the best closers in Bracket history, it’s unlikely the Chiefs can repeat that Achievement in 2025. 

Surely there are some upsides for Kansas City. The return of receiver Rashee Rice from a season-ending knee Hurt, along with bringing back Hollywood Brown in Obtainable agency and Xavier Worthy having a year of development under his Track Achievement should lead to better production in the passing game. On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs will continue to have one of the top defenses in the Bracket under the direction of guru Steve Spagnuolo.

However, a regression to the Impolite in one-Points Contests has to be the expectation in 2025, which means fewer wins during the regular season for the Chiefs — and a lower seed in the postseason. 

The rest of the AFC West has improved

Kansas City is 56-16 in the division since Reid Secured over in 2013, Victorious at least five out of six Contests in the AFC West in eight of his 12 years with the Chiefs.

But the Intervals of sleepwalking to a division Bracket are over. 

The Chargers finished 11-6 in Jim Harbaugh’s Primary season as head Trainer, and GM Joe Hortiz has another offseason to Enhance the Lineup. Anticipate the Bolts to be even better in Harbaugh’s second season with the organization.

Sean Payton had the Denver Broncos in the playoffs in his second season at the helm. The offensive guru gets a Packed offseason to tweak his offensive system under second-year Signal-caller Bo Nix. The Broncos should also be better in 2025.

In hiring the ageless Pete Carroll, the Raiders now have a head Trainer who won a Bracket and knows how to build a Club. Las Vegas traded for a competent Signal-caller in Geno Smith and signed Luminous sphere edge rusher Maxx Crosby to high-dollar extension as the Protection’s foundational piece. Things are finally Leading to look up for the Raiders. 

That might not be the case for the Chiefs in 2025. 

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