"The magic faded": Skip Bayless calls out Patrick Mahomes' "backyard football" as major reason for Chiefs dynasty’s downfall

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs were eliminated from playoff contention after their 16-13 loss to the LA Chargers in Week 15 on Sunday. Chiefs quarterback Mahomes struggled for most of the game before suffering a season-ending ACL injury in the fourth quarter.

This is the first time the Chiefs (6-8) won't make the playoffs since 2014, and analyst Skip Bayless has said that Mahomes, whom they drafted in 2017, might be a major reason for the downfall of their dynasty.

"This team (Chiefs) was never the same after it was down 40 to 6 in the Super Bowl (vs. Philadelphia Eagles in February)," Bayless said on the "Arena: Gridiron" show on Tuesday. "And we've seen what historically, notoriously happens to the Super Bowl loser every year; they really have a hard time the next year. So that team a year ago went 12 and 0 in one-score games. So far this year, 1 in 7. The magic faded, whatever. "You lost your rabbit's foot … So now I look at the offense, and I hate it for Patrick that he got hurt, but he's not without blame here because of what you were talking about. He's just trying to do what he'd done all those magical years. It's a lot of backyard football that he plays, and he's the best at backyard football I've ever seen in your sport."

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Mahomes has led the Chiefs to five Super Bowls and won three. The QB has also guided Kansas City to eight straight AFC West titles.

Mahomes was not at his fluent best this season, despite showing some flashes of brilliance. He finished his cut-short season with 3,587 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and five rushing TDs.

Moreover, the Chiefs lost seven games by a single score in 2025, five of which by a field goal or less.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes undergoes successful surgery to repair torn ACL

NFL: Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes - Source: Imagn

On Monday, the Chiefs confirmed that Patrick Mahomes underwent successful surgery on his left knee to repair his torn ACL. A statement also said the QB will begin his rehab process immediately.

In Mahomes' absence, Gardner Minshew will start as QB1 for the Chiefs for the rest of the regular season.

The Chiefs will face the Tennessee Titans (2-12) in Week 16 on Sunday.

Edited by Arnold