As the NFL season reaches its critical stretch, the Kansas City Chiefs are facing an identity crisis unlike any since acquiring Patrick Mahomes in 2017. After a thrilling 23-20 comeback victory over the Indianapolis Colts, which seemed to breathe life into their campaign, the Chiefs stumbled with a 31-28 road loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Their record now stands at 6-6, leaving them with less than a 50/50 chance of making the playoffs. With the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, and Los Angeles Chargers all winning in Week 13, Kansas City’s path to the postseason has become even more precarious.

Realistically, the only playoff scenario starts with winning all five remaining games. The Chiefs should handle the Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders, but the home games against the Chargers, Denver Broncos, and Houston Texans present major challenges.

Given recent struggles, it seems unlikely they will win every matchup. A loss to the Texans could dash their playoff hopes entirely, leaving the team at the mercy of the Chargers in Week 15. Fans are left holding their breath as every game now carries immense weight.

Many analysts point out that Kansas City is better than its 6-6 record suggests. Metrics generally favor the Chiefs, particularly on offense. But the team’s performance in one-score games this season — a dismal 1-6 compared to 11-0 last year — highlights more than just bad luck. Close calls, minor mistakes, and untimely drops have cost the team dearly. From a tripped handoff against the Jaguars to missed opportunities from Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice, these small moments illustrate games that could have turned the other way. Yet blaming bad luck alone ignores deeper, structural issues.

The central problem remains the team’s lack of a clear identity. Kansas City has few glaring weaknesses — which is why analytics often favor them — but it also has few true strengths. In big games, good teams rely on what they do best. Past seasons illustrate this well: the Chiefs leaned on offense to win in 2019 and 2022, while the 2023 team relied heavily on elite defense. Now, both offense and defense have gaps that prevent Kansas City from reaching elite status.

What is causing this identity crisis? It’s a mix of factors — coaching, roster composition, and perhaps other unseen issues — but the roster is a major concern. The team lacks a wide receiver capable of defeating man coverage, cannot run the ball effectively, and struggles to generate pressure with just four pass rushers. The secondary is feeling the effects of roster attrition, forcing blitzes that cannot be supported effectively. On offense, the Chiefs cannot rely on a comprehensive passing game and struggle to run on early downs. On defense, they cannot rush successfully with four, creating vulnerabilities that opponents exploit.

These limitations make it nearly impossible for Kansas City to create a clear identity on either side of the ball. Patrick Mahomes mitigates many of these issues with his talent, but football is a team game, and the Chiefs cannot rely solely on one player to overcome structural problems. If the team does not find a formula to excel collectively, their season is likely doomed, and their playoff chances will continue to dwindle.

Can the Chiefs develop an identity before the season ends? Based on what we’ve seen so far, it seems unlikely. They have had a full offseason, 12 games, and a bye week to solve these issues. If no progress is evident now, real change may have to wait until the offseason. Fixing weaknesses on both sides of the ball in a single offseason will be a daunting task. The silver lining, however, is that missing the playoffs could improve Kansas City’s draft position, giving them a better shot at acquiring a blue-chip prospect in 2026 to help solve at least one of their problems.

The bottom line is clear: this identity crisis is the biggest existential challenge the Chiefs have faced since acquiring Mahomes. To return to the level of dominance seen in past seasons, the team must find an area in which it can excel. How Kansas City addresses this problem will likely define the remaining tenure of head coach Andy Reid and the team’s path forward. Fans, analysts, and rivals alike are watching closely, wondering if the Chiefs can reinvent themselves or if 2025 will become another missed opportunity.