Chiefs’ Super Bowl Odds Keep Fading After Back-to-Back Losses

• The Kansas City Chiefs have lost two straight to fall to 4-2
• Kansas City’s defense has allowed 372 rushing yards in the last two games
• With the Patriots still perfect, the Chiefs’ path to the Super Bowl has gotten a lot harder

The Kansas City Chiefs suffered a second straight loss on Sunday as they fell 31-24 to the Houston Texans. While a loss to the Indianapolis Colts last week was surprising but explainable, the loss to the Texans was a big surprise.

The Chiefs’ Super Bowl odds have taken a big hit. Are they still worth a bet to win the Lombardi Trophy?

 Super Bowl 54 Odds

*Odds taken October 13

Chiefs Stumble For Second Straight Week

A loss to the Colts was at least understandable as the Chiefs were shorthanded, saw quarterback Patrick Mahomes get injured mid-game, and had no answer to Indianapolis’ dominant offensive line. Many pundits believed that the Colts were uniquely suited to capitalize on the Chiefs in Week 5, with their overpowering offensive line, but it seems like the Texans discovered another way to beat Kansas City.

The Texans, with one of the shakier offensive lines in the NFL, pounded the Chiefs for 192 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Deshaun Watson and the passing game also picked apart the Chiefs through the air, compiling another 280 passing yards. Most impressively is that they managed to do so even though they trailed 17-3 in the first half.

What was incredible is just how much the Texans dominated the ball as they held it for 39:48, running a total of 83 plays compared to the Chiefs 47. Kansas City had the ball for just 20:12. Beyond that, the Chiefs offense didn’t look nearly as lethal as last year, or even a month ago; they had just one touchdown and two punts in the second half.

After taking a 17-3 lead, they were outscored 28-7 the rest of the way. They have some big problems.

Can The Chiefs Run The Ball?

It’s quite clear that the Chiefs defense is a train wreck. The KC offense runs at a fast pace, and when they don’t put together at least a few first downs, the defense is put back on the field before it can catch its collective breath. Eventually, that unit can’t get enough stops to get the ball back to the offense.

One of the reasons for KC’s offensive woes is the run game. They have a total of 89 rushing yards in the last two weeks and they’re not controlling the ball at all. Their offense has boiled down to Mahomes bombing away and, if the defenses prevent those big plays, Kansas City has no other answers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe4i9ctGvuQ

On top of that, the Chiefs are banged up at a number of positions, including quarterback where Mahomes has a bad ankle. He’s making a lot of turnover-worthy plays and he was lucky to get away with just one interception on Sunday.

Mahomes had 10 touchdowns and no interceptions through his first three games; he has four touchdowns and a pick in his last three.

What’s The Best Bet?

At this point, you’d have to fade the Chiefs. They’ve done themselves a huge disservice these last two weeks, losing games that will cost them home-field advantage in the playoffs. The New England Patriots are still undefeated, so now the Chiefs’ road to the Super Bowl likely goes through Foxborough.

With Mahomes banged up and the defense struggling, can they even win in Denver this coming Thursday on a short week? Can they beat Green Bay two weeks from now? What about their visit to New England in December?

These losses have impacted the Chiefs’ path to the Super Bowl and they’re not worthy of a futures bet, even at their now, longer odds.