An NFL executive has shared one of the strangest ideas you’ll ever hear about the Kansas City Chiefs. He thinks the powerful team would actually do better if they missed the playoffs completely this year. This is a shocking idea, especially since the Chiefs just won an important 23-20 overtime game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
That win brought their record to 6-5 this season, keeping them in the AFC playoff race. You can see why people are worried about their 2025 problems, though, because even with the win, that performance wasn’t very good. If the season ended today, Kansas City would still be on the outside looking in.
The Chiefs’ problems this season have been confusing, to say the least, and their recent game against the Colts didn’t help quiet the critics. Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes didn’t throw a single touchdown pass, threw an interception, and ended the day with a poor 77.4 passer rating. It definitely wasn’t a great day for Andy Reid’s team. According to Newsweek, the poor performance has apparently led one anonymous NFL executive to suggest that this massive failure is exactly what the team needs for long-term health.
Operation Sports App
Your ultimate companion for sports gaming. Access in-depth coverage, thoughtful discussion, and a community built around the games—and sports—you love.
Your ultimate sports gaming companion.
The team doesn’t need failure to find success
The poor performance has apparently led one anonymous NFL executive to suggest that this massive failure is exactly what the team needs for long-term health. Speaking to Mike Sando, the exec said that if the team missed the postseason, “They can then have a real assessment as to who they want to be and how they want to get there.”
This is one of the strangest takes you must’ve heard all year. This team is defined by success, and suggesting they purposely fail is just crazy. The Chiefs have won nine straight AFC West division titles, showing amazing consistency year after year. They haven’t failed to make the postseason since way back in 2014.
We’re talking about a dynasty that has appeared in five Super Bowls during that time, winning three championships. Missing the playoffs simply isn’t in their DNA, and pushing them toward failure feels completely unnecessary, especially for a team that has shown it knows how to win. Not everyone agrees with this doom and gloom outlook, though, as some analysts have expressed strong belief in their championship potential.
Sure, the team has clear issues they need to fix, but they can definitely fix those problems during the offseason after making a deep playoff run. They don’t need to skip the tournament to figure out their roster or their identity.
Beyond the historical context, the logistics of tanking for this team make zero sense. It’s not like Kansas City needs to lose games to get a new quarterback. They already have Patrick Mahomes. Even if they tried to tank for draft position, the Chiefs already have six wins. Their worst possible record would be 6-11, which means they wouldn’t even get the number one overall pick.
Trying to throw away the season when the reward is a mediocre draft spot seems like a waste of time and energy. The team has also dealt with controversial moments this season, including a disallowed Travis Kelce touchdown and officiating drama.
We all know how dangerous Andy Reid’s team is once they actually get into the tournament. Even if they barely make it in, they’re capable of beating anyone on any given Sunday. Pushing them to stay home just seems like strange logic when the ultimate goal is always winning the Super Bowl.
Published: Nov 24, 2025 04:10 pm