Honestly, if you told a Chiefs fan back in August that Kansas City would finish the year with a losing record, they probably would have laughed you out of the room. We're talking about a team that spent the last half-decade treating the AFC West like a personal playground. But the chiefs record this season tells a much different, much darker story for the Kingdom.
6-11.
It's a jarring number to look at. For the first time since 2012—pre-dating the Andy Reid era—the Kansas City Chiefs have finished with a losing record. They didn't just miss out on a first-round bye; they missed the playoffs entirely. The dynasty didn't just crack; it hit a wall at 100 miles per hour.
What Really Happened With the Chiefs Record This Season
The season started with an ominous tone. A Week 1 loss to the Chargers in Brazil set a weird vibe that the team never quite shook. Then came a heartbreaker against the Eagles. Suddenly, the "three-peat" talk felt very, very quiet.
By the time the dust settled on Week 18, the chiefs record this season was solidified at 3rd in the AFC West. They finished behind a resurgent Denver Broncos (14-3) and a gritty Jim Harbaugh-led Chargers squad (11-6). It’s the first time since 2015 that anyone other than Kansas City has worn the divisional crown.
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Most people look at Patrick Mahomes and assume everything is fine. It wasn't. Mahomes finished the year with 3,587 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. For almost any other human, those are Pro Bowl numbers. For Mahomes? It’s a career low in several categories. He spent a significant chunk of the season dealing with a knee injury that clearly sapped his mobility and his confidence in the pocket.
The Mid-Season Mirage
There was a moment where it looked like they might pull it off. After a shaky 2-3 start, the Chiefs went on a three-game tear. They handled the Lions, shut out the Raiders 31-0, and then dismantled the Commanders. At 5-3, the narrative was: "The Chiefs are back. They always do this. They're just bored in September."
Then the Buffalo game happened in Week 9. A 28-21 loss that seemed to break their spirit. From that point on, Kansas City went 1-8. One win in two months. That’s not a slump; that’s a collapse.
Why 6-11 is Deceivingly Close
If you're a glass-half-full person, you'll point out that 9 of those 11 losses were by 7 points or less. Basically, they were a few plays away from being 11-6 or 12-5. But in the NFL, "almost" doesn't get you a wildcard spot.
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The defense, led by Steve Spagnuolo, actually held up its end of the bargain for a long time. They ranked 6th in the league in points against (19.3 per game). The problem was an offense that looked completely out of sync. Between the injuries to Isiah Pacheco and the struggle to find a consistent WR2 behind Rashee Rice—who missed significant time himself—the burden on Mahomes became unsustainable.
Key Stats from the 2025 Campaign
- Final Record: 6-11 (1-5 in the AFC West)
- Home/Away Split: 5-4 at Arrowhead, a dismal 1-7 on the road.
- Turnover Margin: -1 (which is uncharacteristic for a Reid team).
- Point Differential: +34 (unusually high for a team with 11 losses, proving they lost close and won big).
Kareem Hunt stepped in and did what he could, leading the team with 611 rushing yards, but the explosive "big play" ability that defined the Chiefs for years just vanished. When backup Gardner Minshew II had to step in and then he got hurt, leading to Chris Oladokun starting the final stretch, the writing was on the wall.
The Reality of the AFC West Standings
The division is no longer a cakewalk. Denver's 14-3 record wasn't a fluke; they had the best home record in the AFC. The Chargers have finally found an identity. Even the Raiders, who finished 3-14, managed to beat the Chiefs in the season finale, a 14-12 rock fight that served as the final nail in the coffin.
| Team | Record | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 14-3 | 5-1 |
| L.A. Chargers | 11-6 | 5-1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 6-11 | 1-5 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 3-14 | 1-5 |
The 1-5 divisional record is probably the most shocking part of the chiefs record this season. You can't make the postseason if you can't win in your own backyard.
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What’s Next for the Kingdom?
So, where do they go? The "limitations" of this roster became glaringly obvious. Travis Kelce is 36. He still made the Pro Bowl, but the days of him carrying the entire passing game are winding down. The front office, led by Brett Veach, is facing its most critical offseason since drafting Mahomes.
They have to fix the offensive line depth and find a legitimate deep threat. Xavier Worthy showed flashes, but the consistency isn't there yet.
Actionable Insights for the Offseason:
- Prioritize the O-Line: Mahomes was sacked 34 times in 14 games. He needs better protection to let his knee heal.
- Evaluate the WR Room: Relying on aging vets or unproven rookies hasn't worked. They need a proven, high-volume target.
- Address the Road Woes: Going 1-7 away from GEHA Field at Arrowhead is a coaching and preparation issue that Andy Reid will likely obsess over this spring.
The dynasty isn't necessarily over, but the era of invincibility is. The chiefs record this season is a wake-up call that talent alone isn't enough when the rest of the league catches up.
To get a better sense of how the roster might shift, you should look into the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft order, where the Chiefs will surprisingly be picking in the top 10 for the first time in over a decade.