Kansas City, MO . December 4, 2025
The Kansas City Chiefs are staring at a 6-6 reality that nobody in the NFL expected — not for a franchise that has built its identity on domination, consistency, and five Super Bowl appearances in six years. For the first time in more than a decade, the postseason isn’t guaranteed, and the football world is searching for answers.
But according to former Patriots star and current NFL analyst Devin McCourty, the conversation around Kansas City has been focusing on the wrong thing. The issue isn’t that the Chiefs got worse. It’s that the rest of the AFC — and specifically the AFC West — finally closed the gap.
On The Dan Patrick Show, McCourty delivered the blunt assessment that resonated across the league. “The truth is everyone around them just got better,” he said, noting that the Chiefs are actually
a stronger team on paper than the one that reached the Super Bowl last season. Yet unlike previous years, Kansas City no longer enjoys the advantage of facing inexperienced quarterbacks or poorly coached rivals.
That dynamic has shifted dramatically. Denver has surged with Sean Payton establishing control. The Chargers have transformed under Jim Harbaugh. Even middle-tier AFC teams have stabilized, drafted well, and found better direction. Games the Chiefs used to seal in the fourth quarter are now slipping away — not because Kansas City is failing, but because the opposition has evolved.
McCourty’s breakdown highlighted areas where the Chiefs improved: a deeper offensive roster, a healthier and more capable offensive line, and a defense still anchored by Steve Spagnuolo’s aggressive scheme. In a vacuum, this should be a top-tier roster. But the new reality of the conference means Patrick Mahomes no longer walks into matchups with a built-in coaching or personnel edge.
The article warns that this shift could be the beginning of a longer trend unless general manager Brett Veach acts decisively in the offseason. For years, the Chiefs thrived on strategic roster moves and timely upgrades. Now, standing still is no longer an option.
The message is clear. The rest of the AFC has caught up — and some teams may already be pulling ahead. Kansas City’s margin for error has evaporated, and the franchise faces a crucial turning point as it tries to reclaim the throne before the window tightens further.
