Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes expressed his disappointment following a 31-28 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 6, where his team squandered a two-touchdown lead.
“Obviously, it sucks,” Mahomes stated bluntly after the game. “You let a game slip away. It still sucks whenever you get a lead and you’re not able to hold it.”
Despite moments of strong execution, Mahomes pointed out that penalties and mistakes have plagued the team throughout the season. “We have the guys and we’ve executed at certain points in games and looked really good, but we crush ourselves with penalties and mistakes. We’ve done that to ourselves all season long,” he added, emphasizing the need for improvement.
The Chiefs initially surged ahead 14-0 in the second quarter, capitalizing on a goal-line fumble by Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and converting it into a 97-yard touchdown drive.
However, the Jaguars responded fiercely, highlighted by a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown from linebacker Devin Lloyd and two rushing touchdowns from Lawrence, including a decisive one-yard score with just 30 seconds remaining.
This defeat marked a significant moment for the Chiefs, as it was their first loss after leading by 14 or more points since Week 17 of the 2021 season. Previously, Kansas City had maintained a remarkable streak of 22 consecutive wins when holding such leads, the second-longest active streak in the NFL.
All three of the Chiefs’ losses this season have been by a single score, contrasting sharply with their record in 2024 when they won an NFL-record 11 one-score games en route to another Super Bowl appearance.
Even after Mahomes orchestrated a late touchdown drive that briefly put Kansas City ahead 28-24, the defense faltered, allowing Lawrence to lead a final scoring drive.
“I thought multiple times we had him,” defensive tackle Chris Jones remarked. “We’ve just got to finish. Us, as a defensive line, we’ve got to be more disciplined on our rush lanes. We let Trevor get out multiple times, especially in the red zone. That’s on the D-line. I take that personal, the containment of the quarterback.”
Lawrence's ability to evade pressure was evident as he rushed for 53 yards on eight carries, a point noted by linebacker Nick Bolton. “He can build up speed in a hurry, especially if he goes right down the middle of the defense,” Bolton said. “We definitely mentioned it [in preparation last week]. We knew he could use his legs.”
Penalties further hindered Kansas City’s efforts, with the team committing 13 penalties for 103 yards—their highest total since 2018. A critical pass interference call by cornerback Jaylen Watson on third-and-15 extended a Jaguars drive that culminated in a touchdown, while another penalty on safety Chamarri Conner set up Lawrence’s winning score.
“I’ve just got to play better and not leave it in the ref’s hands,” Watson admitted. “Anytime the defense has a chance to go win the game, we want to win the game. It’s a bad feeling.”
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid acknowledged the impact of penalties on the game’s outcome. “Whether I agree with them or don’t agree with them, it doesn’t matter,” Reid stated. “They called them. And so you have that many penalties, you give up field position. You can out-stat them to death, but it doesn’t matter. It’s the score that matters, and we’ve got to take care of business there.”
Mahomes remains optimistic about correcting the team’s issues but recognizes the urgency. “We’ve got to find a way to play complete football,” he said. “We’ve got the talent, but talent doesn’t win games if you beat yourself.”
The Chiefs are set to face off against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, October 12.
