![Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in the closing minutes of Sunday's loss to the Chargers, an MRI confirmed. "Don't know why this had to happen," he wrote on social media. "And not going to lie, [it] hurts."](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/67572631941d3bd313f3c3c6/693f61bd3ca588e69291974f_i.jpeg)
The Kansas City Chiefs' chances of making the playoffs have been officially extinguished, and their star quarterback Patrick Mahomes will not be on the field to lead a potential comeback. In a devastating turn of events, Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in the closing minutes of Sunday's 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The injury occurred with less than two minutes left in the game, as Mahomes scrambled out of the pocket and planted his left foot, causing his knee to buckle.
According to the team, Mahomes underwent an MRI after the game, which confirmed the severity of the injury. The Chiefs are now exploring surgical options, and Mahomes took to social media to express his disappointment and frustration. "Don't know why this had to happen," Mahomes wrote. "And not going to lie, [it] hurts. But all we can do now is [trust] in God and attack every single day over and over again." Mahomes also thanked the Chiefs kingdom for their support and announced that he will be back stronger than ever.
It's a tough pill to swallow, but we have to move forward and focus on the future. We can't change what happened, but we can learn from it and come back stronger next season. - Chris Jones
The injury to Mahomes is a significant blow to the Chiefs, who were already facing an uphill battle to make the playoffs. With a 12% chance of clinching a postseason berth before Sunday's game, the Chiefs' odds dwindled even further after the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Houston Texans - all teams that had already defeated the Chiefs this season - won their respective games. The Chiefs' 10-year streak of making the playoffs, the longest across the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB, has come to an end.
The Chiefs' inability to win one-score games was a major factor in their failure to reach the postseason. After winning 11 such contests last season, the most in a single campaign in league history, the Chiefs suffered seven one-score losses this season, including Sunday's. Lack of execution, defensive struggles, and kicker Harrison Butker's career-high eight missed field goals all contributed to the Chiefs' disappointing season.
Despite the setbacks, the Chiefs remain optimistic about their future. "Success is rented every year," said pass rusher Chris Jones. "Sometimes it don't go the way you planned for it to go. I think we learned a lot this year." The Chiefs will look to regroup and rebuild in the offseason, with Mahomes expected to make a full recovery from his injury.
Backup quarterback Gardner Minshew, who replaced Mahomes after the injury, expressed his disappointment at being unable to lead the team to a win. "I felt very comfortable to go in and execute the offense," Minshew said. "I hate that situation. I hate that I couldn't deliver and get us a win and keep our [playoff] hopes alive." The Chiefs' playoff hopes may be over, but the team remains committed to improving and making a deep run in the future.
The Chiefs' season may not have ended as planned, but the team can take away valuable lessons from their experiences. As cornerback Jaylen Watson said, "We're just not finishing. It's a play or two - or three. We're just not finishing. It's frustrating." The Chiefs will look to use this frustration as motivation to come back stronger next season, with Mahomes leading the charge.
In the meantime, the Chiefs will focus on supporting Mahomes as he undergoes surgery and rehabilitation. The team's fans, known as the Chiefs kingdom, will also be rallying behind their star quarterback, eager to see him return to the field and lead the team to victory. As Mahomes himself said, he will be back stronger than ever, and the Chiefs will be ready to make a deep run in the playoffs when he returns.
Original: ESPN
Image: ESPN
Written by Npsports
