Patrick Mahomes admits to AFC West reality after Chiefs loss to Broncos

Patrick Mahomes flung a desperation pass hoping to squeeze some final heroics against the Denver Broncos . But the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback took a sack before firing the ball off, ending the game. And the conclusion of that dramatic 28-24 Broncos win forced Mahomes to admit a new, AFC West reality.

Mahomes got honest with reporters after the game about the new state of the division.

"Obviously, it was a big game. I mean, I'm not gonna hide from that, but now you're kinda in a dogfight for the division," Mahomes said.

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Kansas City became spoiled with one division title after another in the era of Andy Reid and Mahomes. The franchise collected nine straight division crowns until 2025 arrived .

That injury ravaged Chiefs team succumbed to a 6-11 record, snapping their impressive streak of claiming the AFC West. But who leapfrogged them and everyone else? Sunday's victors inside Empower Field.

Denver swooped up the division and clinched home field advantage throughout the AFC postseason last year. Yet ultimately fell to the New England Patriots with the Lamar Hunt Trophy on the line.

Now KC has its first losing streak of the 2026 season in losing two in a row. Granted, the schedule lightens for the Chiefs with the struggling New York Jets next on deck (who fell to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday 38-33). Then Kansas City's next two foes after NYJ are a pair of current 3-5 teams in the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals.

Then the huge Thanksgiving showdown against the Buffalo Bills. But the Chiefs are now navigating in an AFC West that features three teams above .500.