(Audacy Sports/WGR 550) - The Kansas City Chiefs are facing some adversity for the first time in a while, and they’re not exactly handling it well.
Both quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid criticized the officiating for the offside penalty against wide receiver Kadarius Toney on Sunday that negated their go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills.
NFL Insider Jason La Canfora of the Audacy original podcast "In The Huddle" ripped the Chiefs for their whining, and explained why it gives a glimpse into Kansas City’s internal thoughts after another loss.
"What I think this is is a window into their football soul right now," La Canfora said. "They’re telling you who they are, and more the point, they’re telling you that they know who they are which is a team that isn’t going anywhere without everything falling exactly their way. And guess what? This year that’s not the way it’s going down."
The Chiefs fell to 8-5 on the season with the 20-17 loss to the Bills. It was their second-straight loss, and their fourth loss over their last six games after starting the season 6-1.
Home-field advantage in the playoffs has been something Kansas City has counted on in recent years. It’s looking like that won’t be the case this time around.
"They were telling you that they needed Arrowhead, and they know they needed Arrowhead. They need to be home. This all needs to come to us. Everything’s got to be on our terms because we’re not good enough to overcome much," La Canfora continued. "And in this case, it wasn’t overcoming the officials, it was overcoming a boneheaded player [Toney] doing boneheaded things that he’s been doing since college."
That’s the same Toney who once practiced with only one shoe on because he couldn’t find the right size cleats. Despite being a first-round pick in 2021, the New York Giants shipped him to Kansas City for third-round and sixth-round picks last season.
No matter the reasoning, the display by Mahomes and Reid after the game was embarrassing.
"Shut up! Stop whining! Stop crying! You sound like a bunch of fools," La Canfora exclaimed. "This is how you deal with adversity the first time? You finally hit adversity six years into this thing and this is how you respond? Nah, man. They know they’re not it. They know it ain’t it. They know the answers are not within. They’re letting you know with this whole ridiculous display."
The Chiefs are not only in danger of missing out on a bye in the playoffs, but they're now just one game ahead of the surging Denver Broncos in the AFC West.
"This is not their year. They’re not flipping the switch. This isn’t going to galvanize them," La Canfora concluded. "They were showing you with their pouting and their whining and their crying that they know it’s over in terms of them getting anywhere close to where we expect them to be."
The Chiefs are still among the top-five favorites to win the Super Bowl, but they were ahead of the pack entering the season. They’ll look to get back on track on Sunday against the New England Patriots.