The Kansas City Chiefs’ playoff hopes are hanging by a thread after a brutal 20-10 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday, Dec. 7. With their record dropping to 6-7, the Chiefs’ chances of making the postseason have plummeted to just 11%, according to NFL.com.

It was a night to forget for the defending AFC champions, as they struggled to find any rhythm against the NFL’s top defense. The Chiefs were held scoreless in the first half, marking one of their worst offensive performances of the season. Superstar tight end Travis Kelce, in what could be his final NFL season, had just one reception for eight yards, his least productive game of the year. To make matters worse, Kelce dropped two critical passes in the fourth quarter, one of which led to an interception, crushing the Chiefs’ chances of a late-game comeback.

Despite the adversity, Kelce remained optimistic earlier in the week, telling his brother Jason on their New Heights podcast, “What’s real is that we still have a chance, baby, and that’s all that f—ing matters to me.” He even boldly claimed that the Chiefs were “a few plays away from being a one seed.” But after Sunday’s loss, it’s clear the team’s struggles are deeper than just a few missed opportunities.

The Chiefs’ offense simply couldn’t get it going. Against the Texans’ impenetrable defense, Kansas City’s offense was stifled, and kicker Harrison Butker missed a crucial 43-yard field goal just before halftime, further compounding the frustration.

The second half brought a glimmer of hope as the Chiefs finally scored a touchdown to make it 10-7, but quarterback Patrick Mahomes, limping at times and clearly out of sync, was relentlessly pressured by the Texans’ defense all night.

With just four games left in the season, the Chiefs will need to win out and hope for some help from other teams to keep their Super Bowl streak alive. The road ahead is treacherous, but if there’s one thing the Chiefs know, it’s how to fight until the very end.