There was one second left in the game with a score of 14-16. The Denver Broncos had one last chance to win. 35 yards out stood Wil Lutz, the kicker who all in the stands believed and practically guaranteed would score the field goal and secure the victory. However, things took a turn for the worse when Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal blocked Lutz, something rarely seen in the NFL (CBS). Some Chiefs’ supporters cheered and screamed as they watched this happen, while others shouted “Are you kidding me!?” and stood in disbelief.
The Chiefs, for 11 weeks, had an 11-game winning streak with a record of 9 wins and 0 losses this season (added to 2 games from the 2023 season). Including the 4 wins on their way to winning the Super Bowl, it totals 15 wins in a row. Out of these 15 wins, 12 of them came in one-possession games, and they have been trailing by at least a touchdown in 9 of them (ESPN). And they have won every. Single. Time.
Fans of Kansas City and its players believe that this win – and their streak – was because of their performances. Head Coach Andy Reid expressed pride over their accomplishments this game and season: “I’m proud of our guys for battling. They’ve got big hearts, and you got a chance to see that today” (Kansas City Chiefs).
However, the Chiefs have certainly faced backlash, with people claiming that their wins are purely based on luck. Broncos safety Brandon Jones made an illegal contact foul that went uncalled. The refs were ridiculed online for making poor calls and even missing some calls, with the Chiefs’ offensive line getting away with a hold everyone saw (Yahoo! Sports). This seems to be a recurring issue, which some believe contributed to the winning streak. They are getting sick of the Chiefs getting away with a number of calls each game, and are certainly asking themselves and the team, “When is enough wins enough?” They have already won the Super Bowl, so when will they face a loss? Are they going to lose?
The Buffalo Bills came to the rescue on November 17 when they beat the Chiefs 30-21, handing them their first loss of the season. Kansas City fans were shocked at this loss, wondering where they went wrong. However, others are certainly praying for the downfall of this “oh-so powerful” team. “I have been hearing about the Chiefs winning for so long,” says Victoria Acunto, Senior at Ramapo. “I was honestly surprised to hear that they lost; I never thought it would happen.”
Admittedly, this win streak is certainly something to be reckoned with. However, a loss can help a team learn from previous mistakes and progress. It will certainly be interesting to see how the rest of the season unfolds for the Kansas City Chiefs. Fans certainly can’t wait to watch.
