"Since Patrick Mahomes took over as starting quarterback in 2018, the Kansas City Chiefs have been the NFL's undisputed paragon, appearing in five of the last six Super Bowls and winning three. The 2025 season wasn't expected to be any different: KC entered the campaign with the fourth-best Super Bowl odds (+800) and second-best AFC Championship odds (+350)."
"But things have not gone according to plan for Mahomes and company, and Sunday night's 20-10 upset home loss to the Houston Texans may have been the final blow to their campaign: After entering the season with -450 odds to make the playoffs, the Chiefs now find themselves with +390 odds to play in the postseason."
"Kansas City's struggles are emblematic of an NFL season that has seen Super Bowl contenders falter time and again while teams with low preseason expectations flourish, particularly in the AFC. Week 14 featured several matchups with immense playoff consequences, becoming a turning point for betting futures attached to both the overachievers and underachievers."
Patrick Mahomes' Kansas City Chiefs entered 2025 as top Super Bowl and AFC favorites but suffered unexpected losses, including a 20-10 upset by the Houston Texans, which pushed their odds to make the playoffs from -450 to +390. The Chiefs' decline reflects a broader NFL pattern of preseason favorites faltering while low-expectation teams, especially in the AFC, rise. Week 14 matchups produced major playoff implications and shifted futures markets. Sportsbooks noted heavy early bettor support for Kansas City created liabilities on futures, and operators adjusted odds to reflect current probabilities while seeking balanced action.
Read at ESPN.com
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