The Chiefs have lost their aura of inevitability

The feeling that’s now creeping in? We haven’t had it for a really long time. It’s uncomfortable. And it’s getting harder and harder to ignore.

It’s the feeling of doubt.

For years, the Kansas City Chiefs have been surrounded by a feeling of inevitability. It started in 2019. Everything about it was so new… so fresh! Chiefs fans like myself hadn’t experienced that kind of success in decades. With the team’s young franchise quarterback Patrick Mahomes added to the mix, it was something we had never seen before.

That’s not to discredit Mahomes’ 2018 rookie season, which was remarkable. Much like the Royals’ 2014 season, it was pure, unadulterated fun. But new expectations have a way of changing things. It happened for the Royals — and the Chiefs, too.

Suddenly, it was a new era. The success of every season would be judged by whether Kansas City won a championship. But it went beyond that. Now there was a feeling of certainty surrounding the team. No matter how much adversity they faced, the Chiefs would find a way to overcome.

They did it over and over again.

• Mahomes’ knee is sideways? Not a problem! After missing just two games — two games! — he returns to lead a nine-game winning streak that ends with the team’s first Super Bowl win in 50 years.
• A global pandemic shifts Kansas City’s home-field advantage? No sweat! The team registers the best season in franchise history, going 14-2 on the way to another Super Bowl appearance.
• Wide receiver Tyreek Hill must be traded? Not to worry! Without him, the Chiefs build the NFL’s most efficient offense, Mahomes wins his second MVP award and the team claims another Super Bowl title.
• The following season, the offense craters. No big deal! The defense goes on a historic run to finish the season, leading to the league’s first back-to-back championship in nearly two decades.
• A year later, the team’s rookie left tackle fails spectacularly. No biggie! Kansas City simply moves its left guard outside, winning 11 one-score games to set another all-time franchise record at 15-2, becoming the first team to ever return to the Super Bowl after consecutive wins.

So this isn’t the first time the Chiefs have sprung a leak. But it might be the first time since Mahomes’ arrival that fans are nearly unanimous in their belief the team doesn’t have solutions for its problems.

To a large extent, this is because there isn’t a single problem. The passing game can’t succeed against man coverage and the running game lacks explosiveness. The defense can’t pressure opposing quarterbacks with four down linemen — and when it blitzes, the secondary is exposed.

This isn’t just a boat taking on water. It’s a sinking ship. And it might get worse before it gets better.

The Chiefs’ injuries are mounting — especially along the offensive line. According to head coach Andy Reid, rookie left tackle Josh Simmons is getting a second opinion on...