Patrick Mahomes challenges Chiefs teammates amid dwindling playoff hopes

The Kansas City Chiefs' chances of making the playoffs took a big hit when they suffered a 20-10 loss to the Houston Texans that dropped the Chiefs to 6-7 on Dec. 7. 

On the latest edition of his "New Heights" podcast, tight end Travis Kelce acknowledged that the Chiefs are facing "a tough reality" regarding their pursuit of a postseason berth. Later, quarterback Patrick Mahomes addressed the fact that Kansas City may need more than four straight wins to make the playoffs. 

Patrick Mahomes knows Chiefs are going through a big test

"We’re in an unprecedented territory, someplace that we haven’t been since I’ve been here," Mahomes acknowledged, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "I think you lean on the guys that have battled through adversity and came out better on the other side. That’s [defensive tackle Chris Jones], Trav [Kelce], all of these guys that have won championships. It hasn’t always been pretty, but it’ll really test us to see what type of character we are, and I think we got the guys in the room to do it."

Some viewed the Chiefs as favorites to at least make the Super Bowl when they ended October at 5-3. Kansas City has since lost four of five games, and the aura of invincibility that once hovered over the franchise is now but a memory. 

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid seemed downright desperate to generate a spark for his club when he kept his offense on the field for a 4th-and-1 at the Kansas City 31-yard line when the game against Houston was 10-10 with 10:27 remaining in regulation. That decision ultimately blew up in Reid's face.

Patrick Mahomes needs no extra motivation to win

The Chiefs are behind the 6-7 Baltimore Ravens, 8-5 Indianapolis Colts and 8-5 Texans in the chase for the AFC's final wild-card playoff berth. Mahomes indicated the standings won't give him any extra motivation to earn wins, beginning with Kansas City's home game versus the 9-4 Los Angeles Chargers this coming Sunday. 

"I always want to win, so it’s not like I have to draw too far," Mahomes said. "But when I look at it now, I don’t know what the percentages are, but I know they’re not high, and I think it’d be special if we get to the playoffs and can make a run. So why not give ourselves a chance to do that? And we have to start by winning a football game, so that’s what we’ll start at."

As of Thursday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Chiefs as 5.5-point favorites over the Chargers.