Andy Reid defiant as Chiefs’ playoff hopes dwindle after Thanksgiving loss to the Cowboys

Kansas City, Missouri. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid sounded downright defiant Monday when asked about his team’s dwindling playoff hopes, which took a hit not only last week amid a Thanksgiving loss to the Cowboys but over the weekend when other results didn’t go their way.

The reigning AFC champions are 6-6 with five games remaining, and even if the Chiefs win them all, they’ll still need help to return to the postseason. Because Kansas City’s disappointing 3-4 record against the rest of the conference contributed to the Steelers’ Sunday loss to the Bills, which dropped them to 10th place in the AFC playoff standings.

The Chiefs have about a one in three chance of making it to the postseason, depending on the metrics.

“If you’re coming to me,” Reid said Monday, “we’re going to go after you every game, and that’s how we roll. Every time we play or play a game, we will tickle your tonsils. However, that’s the mindset we’re adopting, and you then let the chips fall where they may. ”.

The Chiefs are third in the AFC West as they prepare to play the Texans on Sunday night, and are nearly eliminated from their pursuit of a 10th consecutive division title. Now, their focus is on extending a playoff streak that goes back to the 2015 season, the third with Reid as the head coach, and three full seasons before Patrick Mahomes became the starting quarterback.

There is cause for optimism: Kansas City won its final four games to secure a wild-card bid the last time it was 6-6, which was in 2017.

“Every season is different,” Reid said. This sport is full of obstacles. That is the case. When you look at it, it’s most likely a microcosm of life. There’s always challenges. dot. There’s such a small margin between winning and losing that every week is a challenge, a major challenge. That’s how you have to approach it, and you have to be ready for it. ”.

The biggest challenges the Chiefs are facing right now are of their own making. Throughout the majority of the season, they have been plagued by penalties and mental errors. This was evident in their 31-28 loss to the Cowboys, where a string of flags in the fourth quarter denied them the opportunity to pull off a comeback victory.

Kansas City has allowed the fifth-most penalty yardage in the NFL this season.

Reid stated, “We have to make sure we take care of business with the penalties and keep working our fundamentals and techniques.”. “Not saying I agree with all of them, or half of them (against Dallas). However, they did occur.

Nor was Reid willing to make any excuses for the Kansas City pass rush, which has produced just 22 sacks this season, a total that is better than just five other teams. Or a defense that has produced 11 turnovers, a total better than three other teams.

“You’re one or two plays away and that’s what this game is,” Reid said. ”You look at our season, we’re one or two plays off, and we take care of that — whether it’s a penalty at a crucial time, a possible turnover somewhere, or having a chance to create a turnover — we are right in position where if we can figure out those two, three plays, you flip this around. ”.

Time is running out, though.

And while Reid sounded defiant about the Chiefs’ playoff peril Monday, he also understands the reality of the situation.

“You’re not going to hear a lot of positives from the outside coming in,” Reid said, “so you have to make sure you understand where you really sit, and the opportunity you have sitting in front of you. You know, there’s still opportunities. ”.

. We’re not going to use that as an excuse. ”.