Kansas City Chiefs eliminated from playoff contention for first time since 2014

The GIST: It was a big weekend for dads in the NFL — just ask Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, who paired a baby announcement with a comeback win, and Indianapolis Colts QB Philip Rivers, who became just the second grandfather in NFL history to toss a touchdown.

• All to say, family matters — and so do football Sundays. Let’s dig into the headlines that shaped Week 15. Hut, hut, here we go.

❌ Kansas City Chiefs eliminated from playoff contention: For the first time since 2014, KC will watch the postseason from the couch after yesterday’s 16–13 loss to the LA Chargers. The nailbiting L is a film we’ve seen before: The three-point defeat was KC’s seventh one-score loss this season, a far cry from last year when they won an NFL–record 11 close games.

• And KC lost more than their AFC Championship streak: Superstar QB Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL, an injury that typically takes between six months and a year to rehab, with just two minutes left in the fourth quarter. Talk about a heartbreaking double whammy.

🎟️ Denver Broncos and LA Rams punch postseason tickets: Broncos QB Bo Nix grated a gritty Green Bay Packers defense yesterday, tossing four touchdowns to lead “the overdogs” to a playoff-clinching 34–26 dub. Elsewhere, the Rams topped the equally impressive Detroit Lions 41–34 in a high-powered offensive battle that lived up to its hype.

• Sadly, these thrilling showdowns were marred by high-profile injuries, too: The Packers lost linebacker Micah Parsons to a torn ACL and wide receiver (WR) Christian Watson to a chest injury, while Rams WR Davante Adams reaggravated a hamstring strain. Not great.

❤️‍🩹 Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt sidelined for Monday Night Football: The four-time All-Pro was released from the hospital on Friday after undergoing surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung. As expected, Watt is inactive for tonight’s 8:15 p.m. ET primetime tilt against the Miami Dolphins. Health isn’t just wealth; it’s a priority.