INCONSISTENCY CRISIS — Chris Simms Says Chiefs Have “Nothing Scary” Left as Patrick Mahomes Struggles in Shockingly Human Season

The Kansas City Chiefs have spent the better part of the last six years feeling untouchable. Patrick Mahomes became a walking guarantee, Andy Reid became the NFL’s most trusted offensive architect, and the Chiefs were a franchise fans pointed to when they needed an example of excellence that never seemed to crack.

But on the latest episode of Chris Simms Unbuttoned, a different reality was laid bare — a reality where the Chiefs look mortal, beatable, and in some moments, downright average.

And in Simms’ words, the root of the problem is brutally simple:

“Inconsistency is destroying Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense.”

What unfolded on the NBC platform was not a hot take, not a rushed reaction, but a sober, detailed breakdown of why the team that once rewrote the rules of offensive football is now 5–5 and staring up from a division hole they’ve never experienced in the Mahomes era.

THE BRONCOS ARE RISING — AND MAKING THE CHIEFS PAY

Before diving into Kansas City’s unraveling, Simms emphasized something the NFL world didn’t expect: The Denver Broncos are legitimately good.

They’re 9–2, tied with New England for the best record in the league, and riding an eight-game win streak. Their defense is suffocating. Their quarterback, Bo Nix, already has eight fourth-quarter comebacks — the most by any quarterback in his first two seasons since 1950.

Their rise isn’t a fluke. It’s system, structure, clutch play, and confidence.

And it’s also the perfect contrast to what’s happening in Kansas City.

MAHOMES ADMITS WHAT FANS DIDN’T EXPECT TO HEAR

After the loss, Mahomes sounded less like the unshakable superstar America knows and more like a quarterback searching for answers.

“Just not making the plays, not making the throws at the right time,”
Mahomes admitted.
“All you can focus on is next week.”

It was a simple quote — but it landed loudly.

Mahomes has never been this honest about himself being part of the offensive problem. And Simms made it clear: Mahomes isn’t suddenly a worse quarterback; he’s being forced to play perfect football behind an offense that no longer gives him margin for error.

THE DEEP BALL IS GONE — AND DEFENSES KNOW IT

One of the most shocking elements of Simms’ breakdown was his analysis of Mahomes’ once-fearsome deep passing ability.

Early in Mahomes’ career, the league felt helpless. Every deep throw looked effortless. Defenders were cooked the moment the ball left his hand.

Not anymore.

Simms pointed directly to the tape:

“Throwing the ball deep has been an inconsistency for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense for years now.”

And defensive coordinators have adjusted accordingly. Teams are now crowding the short field, daring Mahomes to beat them over the top, and overwhelming Kansas City with physical coverage that today’s receivers simply can’t break through.

THE CHIEFS ARE OUT OF “BLUE CHIPPERS” — AND SIMMS DIDN’T HOLD BACK

One of the most damning segments came when Simms listed the Chiefs’ current roster and asked a blunt question:

“Who scares you?”

The answer?

Not many players.

Simms went position by position, comparing today’s roster to the star-stacked version that surrounded Mahomes in his early Super Bowl runs.

His breakdown:

Rashee Rice — “Okay, I’ll give him blue-chip potential, but he’s not top 10.”

Xavier Worthy & Hollywood Brown — “No. Not blue chippers.”

Travis Kelce — “Not a blue chipper anymore.”

Chris Jones — “Really good, Hall of Fame career, but not currently a blue chipper.”

McDuffie — “Yes. Blue chip.”

George Karlaftis — “Good player, not blue chip.”

Rest of roster — “Good. Not great.”

Simms emphasized a painful truth:
Kansas City simply does not have elite talent at the positions that matter most.

The Chiefs didn’t just lose Tyreek Hill.
They never replaced him.

AGE, SCHEME FATIGUE, AND A LEAGUE THAT CAUGHT UP

Simms’ argument was not just about players — it was about the entire offensive identity.

According to him, the Chiefs offense that once shocked the NFL has turned predictable. Other teams understand the structure. Defensive staffs have studied Kansas City’s tendencies down to the molecular level.

“The league has caught on to the Chiefs… they need to reinvent themselves.”

He pointed at:

A lack of elite speed

Weakness in the run game

A stale offensive scheme

Age and attrition up front

Frustration-driven mistakes from Mahomes himself

Kansas City’s margin for error is gone — and they’re playing like it.

THE MOMENT EVERYTHING SWUNG

Simms highlighted a crucial sequence that symbolized the Chiefs’ season:

Kansas City tied the game 6–6.
Momentum was shifting.
Mahomes was settling in.

Then:

3rd and 14.
Forced throw.
End-zone interception.
Huge return the other way.

Simms labeled it a moment where Mahomes’ frustration boiled over — and where the Chiefs lost control of a game they desperately needed.

And the worst part?

The Broncos responded instantly with their own explosive play, reclaiming the lead and exposing the painful contrast between Denver’s stability and Kansas City’s chaos.

THE CHIEFS HAVE BEEN THIS FOR THREE YEARS — WE JUST DIDN’T WANT TO SEE IT

This is the part of Simms’ breakdown that landed hardest.

For years, Kansas City has been winning despite offensive mediocrity.
They masked problems with Mahomes’ magic and timely defensive plays.

But Simms didn’t sugarcoat it:

“We’re in three years in a row of the Chiefs offense being… eh.”

The difference now is that the Chiefs aren’t escaping anymore.
They’re not winning the ugly games.
They’re not inventing big plays out of thin air.

And the NFL has noticed.

Teams no longer fear Kansas City.
They study them, attack them, and expect to beat them.

WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE MAHOMES AND THE CHIEFS?

For the first time in his career, Mahomes is more than three games behind in the AFC West.
For the first time, the Chiefs no longer look like a guaranteed playoff threat.
For the first time, their identity is being challenged.

Simms’ message was clear:

The Chiefs don’t need tweaks — they need reinvention.

Whether that’s coaching changes, a philosophical overhaul, or a roster rebuild, the Kansas City Chiefs cannot continue pretending everything is fine.

Denver exposed the truth:
The dynasty isn’t dead, but it’s fading into something painfully ordinary.

And unless Kansas City makes bold moves, the NFL may be witnessing the end of an era that once looked unstoppable.