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Chiefs report card: below-average game costs KC top seed in fluid AFC playoff picture

The Chiefs have a Cincinnati Bengals problem.

Kansas City had won 26 straight games in November and December until falling 27-24 to the Bengals on Sunday. This time, the Chiefs had overcome an 11-point deficit to take the lead into the fourth quarter — but they couldn’t protect it.

With the loss, the Chiefs (9-3) are no longer the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff picture, falling behind the Buffalo Bills.

Here’s our assessment of the game, with letter grades for the Chiefs.

KC STAR OF THE GAME

Carlos Dunlap’s tackle of wide receiver Trent Taylor on fourth-and-1 just before halftime would be better remembered if the Chiefs had won. The play shifted momentum and seemed to spark the Chiefs in the second half. But the game’s flow tilted back to the Bengals on Travis Kelce’s fourth-quarter fumble.

Next: The Chiefs meet the Denver Broncos for the first time this season. The game in Denver kicks off at 3:05 p.m. and will be televised by CBS (Ch. 5 in Kansas City).

REPORT CARD

Passing offense: D

Teams don’t rack up big yards through the air against the Bengals, who hadn’t allowed a 300-yard passer this season, and that streak continues. Patrick Mahomes had his run of six straight 300-yard games stopped. But he came up big in big spots, like a pair of long completions to Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and extended his streak of consecutive games with a touchdown pass to 17 when he hit Jerick McKinnon in the second quarter.

The Kelce fumble, the ball ripped from his grasp as he stretched for additional yards, was a crushing blow. The Chiefs led 24-20 when Kelce lost the ball with 14 minutes to play.

Rushing offense: B

Against a defense that held Derrick Henry to 38 rushing yards last week, the Chiefs excelled. Isiah Pacheco ran hard and McKinnon was elusive. Pacheco finished with 66 rushing yards and a touchdown. McKinnon had 51. Mahomes called his own number on a 3-yard touchdown run, winning an airborne collision at the goal line. Skyy Moore’s first career rushing attempt went for 12 yards on a jet-sweep.

Passing defense: C

A potential huge play early, Juan Thornhill’s interception, was negated by a penalty. Not getting to Joe Burrow led to the Chiefs’ downfall in the AFC Championship Game, and they didn’t do much better on Sunday. Burrow wasn’t sacked until late in the game. The Chiefs couldn’t stop a Burrow-to-Tee Higgins completion on third-and-11 with two minutes remaining that might’ve given then a last chance to pull it out.

Rushing defense: D

The Dunlap play was a season highlight, but overall the Chiefs turned in a poor performance. They struggled to bring down Samaje Perine, who rushed for 106 yards and averaged 5 yards per attempt. Burrow also rushed for a TD.

Special teams: C

The Chiefs’ grade here is hurt by Harrison Butker’s 55-yard field-goal miss with 3:24 remaining. It would have tied the game, if good, but maybe Andy Reid should get dinged for not going for it on fourth and 5. Pacheco’s 41-yard kickoff return to open the second half was his second of more than 40 yards this season.