DENVER — After congratulating quarterback Bo Nix close to midfield following the Broncos’ last-second victory Sunday, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes walked off alone and did not say something earlier than getting into the guests locker room inside Empower Subject.
As soon as there, Mahomes remained silent.
When he reached the rostrum for his information convention, he used his voice to take a lot of the blame for the Chiefs’ 22-19 loss, an end result that leveled the staff’s document at 5-5.
“I believe we’re actually proficient and we have got a whole lot of nice gamers, however it’s about being extra constant. I believe it begins with me,” Mahomes stated. “There’s instances the place I am firing and we’re transferring the ball down the sector comfortable. However there’s instances the place we go in spurts the place I miss a throw or a [pass] safety name.
“We have not been constant sufficient to win video games. It begins with me.”
All through Sunday’s sport, Mahomes by no means was in a position to get in rhythm in opposition to the Broncos’ protection.
One of many largest examples occurred on the Chiefs’ opening drive. Mahomes missed two deep photographs for which speedy receivers Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton have been every open downfield. The cross to Worthy was overthrown by 3 yards. Had they linked, Worthy may have scored on a 61-yard reception.
“I’ve simply acquired to make the throw,” Mahomes stated. “There isn’t any different approach round it. The play was designed for [tight end] Travis [Kelce] — and I believe Travis is large open — however you’ve these alerts in your performs and the way [safety Brandon Jones] was sitting with Xavier’s velocity, I knew he was going to have an opportunity down the sector. I’ve simply acquired to offer him an opportunity. I miss that one.”
Coming into the sport, the Chiefs have been hoping a victory following their bye week would assist them chase down the Broncos (9-2) and hold their hopes of a tenth consecutive AFC West title alive. However they now have only a 10% likelihood of profitable the division, in response to NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, whose playoff likelihood mannequin simulated the rest of the season 10,000 instances.
The Chiefs are additionally not favored to win the AFC West, in response to ESPN BET. Their +500 odds are their longest to win the division since 2015, two years earlier than Mahomes joined the staff.
“It will be powerful to get again within the division race,” Mahomes stated. “The aim is to get into the playoffs and attempt to make a run at it. We have got to be taught from this one as a lot as attainable, realizing we’ll get an important opponent [in the 8-2 Indianapolis Colts] coming into Arrowhead [Stadium] subsequent week.
“We’re form of at that time the place we have got to discover a option to win video games.”
Coming into this season, 989 groups within the Tremendous Bowl period had began 5-5 or worse by 10 video games. Simply 89 of these groups (9%) went on to make the postseason, and solely two made the Tremendous Bowl. The lone staff to win the Tremendous Bowl was the 2001 New England Patriots, who have been led by first-year beginning quarterback Tom Brady.
“It is only a one-week mindset,” linebacker Nick Bolton stated. “I imply, each week is form of attending to the purpose the place it is like a playoff week. We have got to discover a option to one sport at a time.”
One poor determination from Mahomes within the third quarter made the Chiefs’ possibilities of beating the Broncos tougher. With the Chiefs within the crimson zone, as a substitute of throwing the ball out of bounds after scrambling — which might’ve arrange a brief subject aim for kicker Harrison Butker — Mahomes tried to make an intermediate cross to working again Elijah Mitchell, just for Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian to intercept it.
On their ensuing possession, the Broncos capitalized by scoring their lone landing.
“You may’t do it,” Mahomes stated of his determination. “I simply did not throw it excessive sufficient. [McMillian] jumped up and made play. I’ve made that throw earlier than, however with the kind of sport we’re in, do not put the ball in hurt’s approach. Take the three factors and transfer on to the following possession.”
All 5 of the Chiefs’ losses this season have occurred in one-score video games (determined by eight factors or fewer). Coming into this season, the Chiefs had gained 17 consecutive one-score video games, together with playoffs, which was the longest streak in NFL historical past.
The Chiefs perceive that they, sooner or later, may need to win an in depth sport — or two or three — for them to clinch a playoff spot.
“If you’re enjoying good groups, whether or not it is myself making a [play] name or the gamers enjoying, you have to do the proper issues,” coach Andy Reid stated. “You set the blokes in the proper place, after which guys have gotten to make performs when given a possibility. That is each side of the ball.”
The one distinction Sunday from the Chiefs’ earlier 4 losses was that Mahomes was given the ball with 4 minutes left and the possibility to guide a profitable drive. However they by no means gained a primary down or a yard. Mahomes’ ultimate dropback, on third-and-10, ended with him being sacked by McMillian.
“That is what you need, you need that chance on the finish of the sport,” Mahomes stated. “I did not come by. I have been in that scenario earlier than. You get that first first down, it places us within the driver’s seat. I did not discover it there, and so they got here up with blitz on that third down. I did not give myself a lot of an opportunity.”
