Can the Chiefs overcome their two-game losing streak again?
Throughout Patrick Mahomes's career, it is unusual for the Chiefs to lose two games in a row. History shows they will not lose a third.
On Sunday night, the Kansas City Chiefs had a heartbreaking loss against the Buffalo Bills. This marks the fourth time in Patrick Mahomes' career that he has lost two games in a row. Before I make a prediction on Week 15's game against the New England Patriots, let's look at the previous three occurrences to see how the Chiefs answered after losing two consecutive games.
Before we dive head first into some of the saddest times under Patrick Mahomes, I want to point out that many flaws that we are seeing in 2023 are not new to the Chiefs under Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. If a walk down memory lane shows us anything, it is that these Chiefs will fix these issues, and will come out of this losing streak a better team.
Patrick Mahomes has never lost three games in a row, and I believe that this is a trend that will continue in 2023. Now let's take a look at the previous two-game losing streaks, and see what information we can gather.
2018
In Week 15 of the 2018 season, the 11-2 Kansas City Chiefs hosted the 10-3 San Diego Chargers in a Thursday Night Football classic playing for the AFC West Divisional title. The offense was efficient in the first half, scoring on two of their possessions, but a questionable pass interference call on the Chiefs enabled the Chargers to extend a drive to get a touchdown. After halftime, the Chiefs marched down the field, extended their lead 21-7, and appeared to put away their opponent.
However, in the second half, the Chiefs, with the help of some holding and pass interference calls, could not stop the Chargers, who would claw back into the game, scoring a touchdown with under four minutes remaining, making the score 28-21 Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes would get the ball with the goal of running out the clock but instead would have three negative plays and go three and out, punting out of their end zone.
Philip Rivers, with two minutes and thirty seconds, would march down the field and, thanks to a pass interference call in the end zone, would score a touchdown and go for two points. That left zeros on the clock and Chiefs Kingdom stunned with a 28-29 loss.
Going into Week 16, the 11-3 Chiefs traveled to Seattle to play the 8-6 Seattle Seahawks. Throughout the first half, multiple penalties on the Chiefs' defense extended Seattle's drives, leading to points. In the second half, the Chiefs took field goals when they got to the red zone, but the defense was not able to stop Russell Wilson and the Seahawks as they were able to score touchdowns. When the Chiefs needed a defensive stop to have a chance at tying the game, they failed, and the Seahawks put the game to rest with a walk-off touchdown. The Chiefs would lose that game 38-31.
Following those consecutive losses, in Week 17, the Chiefs hosted the Oakland Raiders and defeated their division rival 35-3. The Chiefs defense smothered the Oakland Raiders offense, allowing only a field goal. The Patrick Mahomes offense would get back to their juggernaut status and score 35 points in their victory over the Raiders. The Chiefs would then win the number one seed heading into the playoffs. This team would make it to the AFC Championship game losing in overtime to Tom Brady and the Patriots.