The Kansas City Chiefs saw their already dreadful 2025 campaign take another turn for the worse in their 20-13 loss to the Denver Broncos to cap off the league's Christmas Day tripleheader. While the defending AFC champs were a massive underdog heading into the matchup, Kansas City held its own against Denver with its defense showing it was, for the most part, up to the challenge.
That is, until a penalty in the closing minutes of regulation all but ended the Chiefs' chances of coming away with a win in their final home game of the season. The Broncos lined up to go for it on 4th and 2, rather than kicking what would have been the go-ahead field goal, but gained a first down without ever needing to run a play as All-Pro defender Chris Jones jumped offsides, giving Denver a first down and clearing the way for the go-ahead touchdown pass from Bo Nix.
As frustrating as it was to see Jones, of all players, be the one who jumped, the Broncos were counting on it and went into the play thinking their offensive line could bait Kansas City into giving them the yardage necessary to move the chains and, essentially, lock up the win.
Chris Jones' 4th Down Mistake Sums Up Chiefs' 2025 Campaign
"My job was to yell, "Set, Hut," and move (across the line) at any movement (by the Chiefs),'' said Meinerz, who took off and pointed at Jones after he jumped to sell the offsides to the officials, via Mike Klis of 9News.com. "Between Alex's head coming up and me yelling, "Set," they jumped. They were timing up our cadence all game. They were doing a good job timing it all night. So the combination of me yelling and Alex lifting his head ... "
And just like that, the Broncos were in position to score the go-ahead touchdown, allowing their defense to simply prevent Kansas City from reaching the end zone, rather than keeping them out of field goal range. In the end, Denver did just that, forcing the Chiefs into a 4th and 8 situation, which they were unable to convert after moving the ball well within what would have been Harrison Butker's range.
Realistically, winning Thursday night's game after being eliminated from the postseason would have only hurt the franchise moving forward, as they currently are in line to have the No. 10 overall selection in next year's NFL draft. By losing out, Kansas City's positioning in the 2026 draft would be the most favorable that the Chiefs have seen since the franchise selected Patrick Mahomes at No. 10 overall in 2017.
Despite that being the case, the play and outcome will leave a bad taste in the mouth of Jones as it puts a bow on a season to forget for the veteran defender.