The Kansas City Chiefs spent the better part of a decade treating the AFC playoff race as a formality. This year, it became a weekly math problem, and the numbers don't lie. Sunday night's 20-10 loss to the Houston Texans dropped Kansas City to 6-7, pushing the franchise into unfamiliar territory: 10th place in the AFC with four games remaining and below .500 in December for the first time since 2012.

The defeat also ended the Chiefs' run of nine straight AFC West titles. P Patrick Mahomes didn't hide the reality of the moment.

"We know the (playoff) chances are getting lower and lower, but I know the guys on this team are going to give everything they have, every opportunity we get," Mahomes said .

Kansas City's night unraveled in familiar fashion. Drives stalled, chances slip

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