Chiefs' loss to Bills stings but doesn’t shake their Super Bowl belief
Last week, the Kansas City Chiefs were the toast of the NFL. Their offense had awakened. Their defense had given up seven total points in two games. They had won five of their last six games, had rocketed back up to being one of the Super Bowl favorites, and Patrick Mahomes was the favorite to win the MVP. Then, on Sunday, they lost 28-21 to the now 6-2 Bills in Buffalo, and suddenly they're back to being a team that will be lucky to even make the playoffs.
The rollercoaster of opinions about the 2025 Kansas City Chiefs is enough to give you whiplash. Were experts and fans alike too quick to write the Chiefs off after their 0-2 start? Yes. Were fans and experts again too quick to anoint the Chiefs as one of the NFL's best teams after a hot streak that included wins over some teams that were struggling and dealing with major injuries? Also yes. Are there now people pivoting back to doom and gloom for the Chiefs after a one-score road loss to a good team? Once again, the answer is yes.
The Kansas City Chiefs are the same team they were before the Bills game
The Kansas City Chiefs came into the Bills game with some clear flaws. Their defensive line has been a disappointment. The absence of Josh Simmons at left tackle was a blow to the confidence Patrick Mahomes was developing in his offensive line in pass protection. The Chiefs, despite some impressive runs from 30-year-old Kareem Hunt, cannot consistently run the ball enough to take the pressure off Mahomes. Those things were all true when the Chiefs had won five of their last six and haven't changed after the loss to the Bills.
It is definitely fair to ask questions about the Chiefs’ loss to the Bills. The Chiefs’ game plan and execution against the Bills left a lot to be desired. It definitely felt like the Chiefs got outcoached in this game. That's disappointing for fans, but it doesn't really change the potential of this team, especially given their track record of stepping up in the postseason, specifically against this Bills team. So it is fair to knock Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo for this specific game, but if this one regular-season game changes your belief in this coaching staff after all they've achieved, you might be a prisoner of the moment.
It is true that the Chiefs would be out of the playoffs if they started today, and that is not ideal. However, the Chiefs now get a bye week to get back on track. They have the chance to make a move at the trade deadline, and they have plenty of key games remaining so they can control their own destiny in making the playoffs. They still have both games against the Denver Broncos, a home game against the Los Angeles Chargers, and a home game against the Indianapolis Colts. Those games will go a long way in determining how the AFC West and overall AFC turn out.
The bottom line here is that the Chiefs' flaws remain the same now as before the Buffalo game, but their high ceiling does as well. If KC can have a better game plan, get their starting offensive line back on the field, and potentially make an addition that could improve either their run game (Breece Hall, anyone?) or pass rush, this team is still absolutely a Super Bowl contender.
The loss to the Bills was frustrating and probably destroyed any hopes of them getting all the way to the top seed in the AFC, but they should still be a playoff team, and nobody will want to play them in the postseason if that happens.
Commanders' nightmare loss to Seahawks continues to get worse with more unfortunate injury updates
The season is officially over for the Washington Commanders, and the nightmare somehow continues after the worst night in recent memory for this franchise.
The Commanders got blown out at home in primetime during a night that was supposed to be special with the throwback uniforms and Art Monk jersey retirement, but it turned into fans leaving in the middle of the second quarter, and a gruesome injury. You can move on from a loss, but seeing Jayden Daniels go down with a severe elbow injury was gut-wrenching.
Daniels' injury wasn't the only significant injury last night, as the hits continue with two more season-ending injuries
Luke McCaffrey suffers a season-ending injury
The game barely started before the Commanders suffered yet another injury, and wide receiver Luke McCaffrey went down after returning the opening kickoff. He went down awkwardly on his left side, which is now being diagnosed as a broken collarbone that will have him out for the rest of the year.
McCaffrey was starting to really find his role in the offense and special teams, and now his season comes to an end. He was second in the league in kickoff return yards with 769, and also averaged 18.5 yards per catch. The Commanders turned to McCaffrey after injuries to Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown, and he was showing a lot of promise with multiple tough catches.
He should be part of the offense next season, but another injury just shows even more how badly this team needs help at the position. The Commanders added Treylon Burks and hope to get a roster win from him, but major changes need to happen with McLaurin and Brown injured, and Deebo Samuel not under contract next season. The defense is another conversation, and they lost another starter for the rest of the season.
Marshon Lattimore is feared to have torn an ACL
The defense was an embarrassment once again, with the Seahawks blowing the team out before halftime, and it never got any better. Busted coverage and wide-open explosive plays were all over the field, and major changes need to happen on and off the field. It got even worse for Marshon Lattimore, who went down with an injury that is feared to be a torn ACL.
There's no easy way to put it, but it was a nightmare night for Lattimore. He played really well last week against the Kansas City Chiefs, but it's time to admit that this trade was a massive swing and a miss by Adam Peters. It's unfortunate to see the season go down like this for Laittmore in what is very likely his last game with the Commanders. He's under contract for next season as well, but I don't expect him to be here after the defense faces an overhaul this offseason, if not sooner.
Injuries have been the biggest headline of the season with multiple starters suffering long-term injuries, and the roster honestly needs an overhaul as well. It will be a long rest of the season, with a massive offseason coming up.
