The Kansas City Chiefs are entering a pivotal stretch of the 2025 season with their backs firmly against the wall after a frustrating Sunday Night Football loss to the Houston Texans. The defeat dropped Kansas City to 6–7 and significantly damaged their playoff odds in a tightly packed AFC field, making every remaining game essentially a must-win situation for a team that has grown used to planning for January, not fighting just to get there.
The most alarming storyline right now is the state of the offensive line. Already playing without starters Josh Simmons, Jawaan Taylor and Trey Smith, the Chiefs lost left tackle Wanya Morris to a knee injury on the very first offensive snap against Houston, forcing undrafted rookie Esa Pole into action to protect Patrick Mahomes’ blind side. Simmons was recently placed on injured reserve following wrist surgery, Taylor has been dealing with a triceps issue, and Smith remains out with an ankle sprain, leaving Mahomes behind a patchwork unit at the most critical point of the season.
That attrition showed up on the field. Mahomes spent much of the night under heavy pressure from one of the league’s best pass-rushing groups, and the offense never fully found a rhythm in the 20–10 loss. Multiple drive-killing dropped passes from Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce stalled momentum, turned manageable third downs into punts, and helped swing field position in Houston’s favor at crucial moments. A missed field goal by Harrison Butker before halftime and stalled drives in plus territory only added to the frustration, as Kansas City managed just one touchdown and failed to match Houston’s physicality up front when it mattered most.
There were at least a few bright spots to cling to. Kareem Hunt punched in a hard-earned touchdown that briefly pulled the Chiefs back into the game and showcased the kind of downhill, attitude-running this offense has been searching for behind its banged-up line. On defense, Nick Bolton and the front seven still produced stretches of strong play, forcing punts and giving the offense chances, even as the unit coped with more bad injury luck.
Adding to the concern, standout corner Trent McDuffie exited with a knee injury against the Texans, another critical blow for a defense that has been asked to carry more of the load this season. The front office has continued to churn the bottom of the roster, recently signing safety Mike Edwards to the active roster while placing Christian Roland-Wallace on injured reserve, hoping to stabilize the secondary for the stretch run. For Chiefs Kingdom, the message is clear: this season’s path will not be easy, but there is still a shot. If Mahomes and a battered roster can regroup, get a little healthier, and clean up the details — including shoring up protection and cutting down on drops — there is just enough time left for one more late-season run.