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he\u00a0Kansas City Chiefs\u00a0fell short of the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade last season, and one NFL analyst believes they\u2019ll face an uphill battle to make it back.<\/p>\n
The Chiefs were all but officially eliminated when quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending injury in a December loss, with the Chiefs losing out their remaining games. The team must now contend with an aging roster and an uncertain future for Mahomes, which led\u00a0Bleacher Report\u2019s Brent Sobleski\u00a0to predict the team would have a lot to prove in 2026.<\/p>\n
Bleacher Report offered an early power ranking, putting the Chiefs in wholly unfamiliar territory at No. 17. Sobleski noted that the team has no certainty about when Mahomes will return.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Chiefs find themselves in a spot the organization hasn\u2019t experienced in over a decade. Andy Reid and Co. are entering a campaign after not making the playoffs thanks to a non-winning season,\u201d Sobleski wrote. \u201cFurthermore, Patrick Mahomes experienced his first major injury and the timetable for his return remains up in the air.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Mahomes has made strides in his recovery and is on track to start the season, ESPN\u2019s Adam Schefter warned that it could take longer for him to return to his previous form. Players often take much longer to fully return from a torn ACL, and Schefter speculated that Mahomes will be less than his MVP self.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe real question will be not whether he plays, but how effective he\u2019ll be,\u201d Schefter said.<\/p>\n
If Mahomes is unable to start the season, the Chiefs added an expensive insurance policy by trading for former first-round pick Justin Fields.<\/p>\n
Sobleski warned that it\u2019s more than just the uncertainty around Mahomes that could be holding the Chiefs back in 2026. He noted that the team made few significant changes to the group that struggled through most of 2025, with several deficiencies on offense and defense that were not addressed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cFrom a roster standpoint, Kansas City isn\u2019t significantly better today than it was a year ago,\u201d Sobleski wrote. \u201cKenneth Walker III\u2019s addition should help balance the offense and place a greater emphasis on the Chiefs\u2019 ground game. Otherwise, this squad has a lot to prove and shouldn\u2019t be viewed as a Super Bowl contender.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Chiefs also face question marks at wide receiver, with No. 1 pass-catcher Rashee Rice facing an uncertain future after he landed in new trouble this offseason. He was sent to jail to serve a 30-day sentence for his felony street-racing conviction, a sentence that was initially put off to be served later but was implemented immediately due to a failed drug test.<\/p>\n
Sobleski added that it will no longer be taken for granted that the Chiefs can contend in a competitive AFC.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cKansas City must first prove it\u2019s capable of returning to the postseason,\u201d Sobleski wrote.<\/p>\n
The Chiefs must also contend with a rising division, one where the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers are both on the rise and the\u00a0Las Vegas Raiders\u00a0just completed a significant overhaul centered on new quarterback Fernando Mendoza.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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