Turnaround Needed for the Kansas City Chiefs After Thanksgiving Defeat

Thanksgiving Day NFL games are often steeped in tradition, but for the Kansas City Chiefs, the 2025 holiday matchup against the Buffalo Bills delivered a bitter reality check: a 34–20 loss that exposed deep flaws in the team’s performance and left their playoff trajectory in jeopardy. For a franchise accustomed to contending for Super Bowls—led by future Hall of Fame quarterback Patrick Mahomes—the defeat wasn’t just a single-game setback; it was a wake-up call. Entering the game with a 6–4 record, the Chiefs had already shown inconsistency, but the Thanksgiving loss laid bare issues that could derail their season: a porous defense, stagnant offensive drives, and a lack of urgency in critical moments. With just six games left in the regular season and a competitive AFC West division, the Chiefs can no longer rely on their past success to carry them. Turnaround Needed for the Kansas City Chiefs After Thanksgiving Defeat explores the reasons behind the loss, the fixes required to right the ship, and whether this team has the resilience to reclaim its status as a championship contender.

Turnaround Needed for the Kansas City Chiefs After Thanksgiving Defeat first examines the Thanksgiving loss itself, which served as a microcosm of the Chiefs’ season-long struggles. From the opening kickoff, the Bills dominated both sides of the ball: they scored on their first three drives, exploited the Chiefs’ secondary for three passing touchdowns, and held Mahomes and the offense to just 10 points in the first three quarters. The Chiefs’ defense, which had already ranked 22nd in the NFL in points allowed entering the game, looked disorganized: missed tackles (11 total), blown coverages (leading to a 45-yard Bills touchdown), and an inability to stop the run (Buffalo rushed for 152 yards) all contributed to the defeat. Offensively, the Chiefs’ usually dynamic attack sputtered: Mahomes threw two interceptions (his first multi-interception game of the season), and the offensive line allowed four sacks, leaving him scrambling for his life for much of the afternoon. “That wasn’t us out there,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid admitted in his postgame press conference. “We didn’t execute, we didn’t prepare well enough, and we got outplayed in every phase. It’s on all of us to fix this—starting now.” For fans, the loss was particularly disheartening, as it came against a Bills team the Chiefs had beaten in three of their last four meetings, including a 2024 AFC Divisional Round victory.

A critical issue that must be addressed in the Chiefs’ turnaround is their struggling defense, which has gone from a championship-caliber unit to a liability over the past two seasons. In 2023, the Chiefs ranked 10th in points allowed; this year, they’ve plummeted to 22nd, allowing an average of 25.6 points per game. The Thanksgiving loss highlighted two key defensive flaws: a lack of pass rush and poor secondary play. The Chiefs have recorded just 21 sacks this season (tied for 26th in the NFL), a sharp drop from their 42 sacks in 2023. Defensive end Chris Jones—once one of the league’s most dominant pass rushers—has just 4 sacks this year, and he’s looked frustrated and disconnected on the field. In the secondary, the Chiefs have struggled to replace departed cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, with rookie cornerback Trent McDuffie and veteran Jaylen Watson allowing a combined 65% completion rate against them. “Our defense isn’t playing with the intensity we need,” defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said in a post-Thanksgiving practice. “We’re missing tackles, we’re not getting to the quarterback, and we’re letting receivers run free. That’s not going to win us games in December and January.” To fix this, the Chiefs must make adjustments: Spagnuolo has hinted at simplifying the defensive playbook to reduce confusion, and the team may look to sign a veteran pass rusher or cornerback during the NFL’s midseason transaction window.

A defining element of Turnaround Needed for the Kansas City Chiefs After Thanksgiving Defeat is the need to reignite the team’s offensive spark, which has faded in recent weeks. While Mahomes remains one of the league’s top quarterbacks, he’s been under more pressure than usual this season, thanks to an offensive line that’s been decimated by injuries. Starting left tackle Donovan Smith and left guard Joe Thuney have both missed time, forcing the Chiefs to start backups who’ve struggled to contain elite pass rushers. The Thanksgiving loss was a perfect example: Bills defensive end Von Miller recorded two sacks and three quarterback hits, repeatedly beating Chiefs backup right tackle Lucas Niang. Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s playcalling has also come under fire: the Chiefs relied too heavily on the pass against the Bills (throwing 45 times compared to just 18 rushes), even though the run game was averaging 4.8 yards per carry. “We need to get back to being balanced,” Bieniemy said. “We can’t put all the pressure on Patrick to win every game with his arm. We need to establish the run, protect him better, and give him more opportunities to make plays with his legs.” For the Kansas City Chiefs, this offensive turnaround starts with the offensive line: the team hopes to have Smith back from injury in the next two weeks, and they’ve added veteran backup tackle Kendall Lamm to provide depth. Additionally, the Chiefs must find more ways to get wide receiver Tyreek Hill involved—Hill had just 5 receptions for 48 yards against the Bills, well below his season average of 8 receptions for 105 yards.

Another key factor in the Chiefs’ turnaround will be the mental resilience of their veteran leaders, particularly Mahomes and Reid. Mahomes, who’s never missed the playoffs in his NFL career, has faced adversity before—including a 2022 midseason slump that the Chiefs overcame to win the Super Bowl. But this year’s struggles feel different: the team’s defense is worse, and the AFC is more competitive than ever, with teams like the Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and Cincinnati Bengals all vying for the top seed. Mahomes has acknowledged the challenge, but he’s also expressed confidence in his team’s ability to bounce back. “We’ve been in tough spots before, and we’ve always found a way to get better,” Mahomes said in a team meeting after the Thanksgiving loss. “This isn’t the end of our season—it’s a chance to reset, refocus, and show everyone what we’re made of.” Reid, a future Hall of Fame coach with a history of turning around struggling teams, has also emphasized the importance of staying the course. “We’re not going to panic,” Reid said. “We’re going to look at the film, fix what’s broken, and get back to playing Chiefs football. That’s what we do.” For the Kansas City Chiefs, the leadership of Mahomes and Reid will be critical in the coming weeks—they need to keep the team focused, motivated, and united, even as the pressure mounts.

Wrapping up, Turnaround Needed for the Kansas City Chiefs After Thanksgiving Defeat is a story of adversity and opportunity. The Thanksgiving loss was a painful reminder that the Chiefs can’t rest on their past laurels—they need to make significant changes on both sides of the ball if they want to compete for another Super Bowl. Fixing the defense (adding pass rush help, simplifying the playbook), reigniting the offense (protecting Mahomes, establishing the run), and leaning on veteran leadership will all be key to their turnaround. The good news for the Chiefs is that they still have time: with six games left, including matchups against divisional rivals the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders, they can climb back into the AFC West race and secure a playoff spot. But time is running out, and the team can’t afford any more losses like the one on Thanksgiving. “This is a defining moment for our team,” Mahomes said. “We can either fold under the pressure, or we can rise to the occasion and show everyone why we’re the Kansas City Chiefs.” For fans, the hope is that the Thanksgiving loss will be a catalyst for change—a wake-up call that pushes the team to play with the intensity, focus, and heart that made them champions in the past. If they can do that, the Chiefs still have a chance to write another chapter in their recent history of success. If not, 2025 could be the first season since 2017 that the Chiefs miss the playoffs—a outcome no one in Kansas City is prepared to accept.