The Kansas City Chiefs dropped their Week 8 matchup against the Denver Broncos in disappointing fashion, earning their second loss of the 2023 season in a game where they struggled to build momentum from the first snap.
Patrick Mahomes was dealing with illness, star linebacker Nick Bolton was out due to injury, and players on the periphery struggled to make much of an impact against a Broncos team that played with reckless abandon and had nothing to lose.
Games like this aren’t uncommon for Kansas City. After winning two Super Bowls in the Mahomes era, the Chiefs have a constant target on their backs, and games against them are circled on the schedules of every opponent they face.
While this was a sloppy loss that felt out of Kansas City’s reach at nearly every step, the Chiefs are still tied for the best record in the AFC and should have no problem securing their place in the playoffs.
Check out some of the top reactions to the Week 8 tilt from Twitter as fans and the media said their piece about Kansas City’s humbling defeat:
As much as I'd like to say the answer for the #Chiefs is trading for a veteran receiver, I'm just not sure. This group has been disjointed and struggling all year. Adding another body midseason feels like it'll compound the issue. Maybe the problem is deeper than talent?
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) October 29, 2023
In 2021 the KC Chiefs were 3-4 and totally written off by the media. They won 8 in a row and 9 of their last 10. They went to AFCCG and if not for a 2nd half debacle would have made the Super Bowl again. Don’t let this loss sway you. This team is going to be fine. #ChiefsKingdom
— DAMGÅR (@NorthlandTim) October 30, 2023
Broncos played Taylor Swift after beating Chiefs 😂
(via @YahooSports) pic.twitter.com/PdCBg96sMh
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 29, 2023
It happens every year.
The good news is that about 50% of the time it ends in a Super Bowl appearance. #Chiefs pic.twitter.com/osn8DHm7xd
— Patrick Allen (@RPatrickAllen) October 29, 2023
I’m not sure adding a WR who doesn’t know the offense in the middle of the season is gonna be the fix that some think it is.
Not saying the #Chiefs couldn’t use someone (obviously), but tough to add someone now who can make a real difference for the issues we’re seeing.
— BJ Kissel (@BJ_KCSN) October 30, 2023
That wasn't a trap game. The Chiefs defense had 6 sacks and gave their offense several opportunities to take the lead.
Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes inability to overcome their inadequacies at WR was simply revealed/exposed.
Unless Kelce goes off, the Chief offense IS off. pic.twitter.com/Z6ce1CRp11
— 🗣🎙‼️ (@LanceTHESPOKEN) October 30, 2023
2023 Broncos Defense
Allowed 70 to the Dolphins
and
Held the Chiefs to ZERO touchdowns— ThatsGoodSports (@BrandonPerna) October 29, 2023
This loss drops the #Chiefs to the 1 seed in the playoff race.
— Chris (@chiefs_outsider) October 29, 2023
“Chiefsaholic” telling his cellmates about the Chiefs 16-0 run against the Broncos
— John (@superbowl3n) October 30, 2023
Chiefs homers after realizing the three pillars of our franchise were drafted by John Dorsey. Not their might savior Brett Veach pic.twitter.com/wEIbM57CpN
— ۟ (@Toastzz_) October 29, 2023
Chiefs Kingdom has grown so accustomed to losing only about 20% of the time that there's a "sky is falling" vibe when they do. Are any other teams out here beating a team 16 times in a row? That's virtually impossible. The Broncos were beyond desperate to restore some dignity.
— Adam Best (@Arrowhead_Adam) October 30, 2023
The #Chiefs had won 16 straight over the Broncos and Patrick Mahomes had never lost to the Broncos, never lost a divisional game on the road (was 16-0), and had never lost a game to a team at least 2 games under .500 (was 25-0). https://t.co/0Lcohh2vkZ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 29, 2023
BURROW>>>>>MAHOMES.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) October 29, 2023
#Chiefs regular season games scoring 23 or fewer points in the Patrick Mahomes era:
2018 – 0
2019 – 3
2020 – 3
2021 – 7
2022 – 3
2023 – 5 (out of 8 games)— Brandon Kiley (@BKSportsTalk) October 29, 2023
Why is Patrick Mahomes, despite years of great development under Andy Reid, a top 3 o line, a top ever TE, looking a bit worse than we’ve ever seen him? This is od…never-mind. pic.twitter.com/hyeT7ZuPxq
— B (@BShulkes) October 29, 2023