The Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes have often drawn parallels to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots’ dynasty in that when it comes to crunch time in the fourth quarter, they always get it done.
But over the course of this season, the Chiefs, who are usually so good in one-score games, have faltered every time, being 0-5 in one-score games compared to 12-0 last season (including playoffs).
And the latest, a 22-19 loss to the Denver Broncos, signaled the end of the Chiefs’ AFC West dominance, and now the playoffs are a long shot, too.
For former NFL player Damien Woody, in assessing the Chiefs right now, he has a rather incredible take.
“I think the aura is gone in Kansas City,” Woody said on ESPN’s GetUp. “I think this is a team where it’s kind of like New England from the past, where half the battle was mental. But I think teams going into this game are like the hell with Kansas City. I don’t think teams are scared of the Kansas City Chiefs anymore.”
Has the Chiefs’ aura dissipated?
It certainly feels like it right now.
There is no fear factor anymore, and the Chiefs, to most around the NFL, feel human now.
At 5-5, and losing every one-score game this season, every other team on Kansas City’s schedule will fancy their chances against Patrick Mahomes and Co. They never used to.
Why? Because the Chiefs and Mahomes “always” came through in the clutch. There was a fear that if the Chiefs got the ball back with five minutes or less left on the clock, they would win that game.
That fear isn’t there now, and suddenly the Chiefs are viewed differently.
They’re beatable.
