Chiefs in Trouble? Week 11 Reflections & Week 12 Bold Predictions

The 2025 NFL season is flying by! Week 11 is wrapped, leaving the AFC playoff picture in chaos, and Week 12 is upon us. Darin Hayes of Pigskin Dispatch and analyst Ed Kleese returned to the Pig Pen to discuss the Chiefs’ unexpected struggles and lay down their biggest Bold Predictions for the coming slate of games.

📉 Ed's Take: The Chiefs’ Nine-Year Dynasty is Ending

The most significant takeaway from Week 11, according to Ed Kleese, was the Denver Broncos’ win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Ed asserts that this loss is bigger than just one game; it signals a major shift in the AFC. The Chiefs are now 5-5 and have suffered losses to all the teams they're competing with for a Wild Card spot (Broncos, Chargers, Bills, and Jaguars).

"They will not be playing any home games at Arrowhead in the playoffs this year for the first time in a decade. That is a huge change."

Ed now believes the Chiefs will not win the AFC and are no longer a sure bet for the playoffs, meaning the AFC is now "open season" for other contenders. Darin agreed, noting that Denver head coach Sean Payton exposed a successful blueprint for beating the Chiefs: running the ball, eating the clock, and keeping Patrick Mahomes off the field.

📊 Week 11 Results: Darin Takes the Lead

While the Chiefs stumbled, Darin Hayes delivered his best week of predictions yet, flipping the script and snatching the overall lead.

Darin Hayes' Week 11 Results: 8 Points

Pick Details Outcome Points

1. Lions at Eagles-Lions win Incorrect 0
2. Bears at Vikings-Bears win & DeAndre Swift over 100 yards. Correct (Nailed both)2
3. Bills at Buccaneers-Bills win & Josh Allen 4+ TDs. Correct (Nailed both)2
4. Rams at Seahawks-Rams win & force 4 turnovers. Correct (Nailed both)2
5. Panthers at Falcons-Panthers win by 10+Bonus (Panthers won)2

Ed Kleese's Week 11 Results: 6 Points

Pick Details Outcome Points

1. Bears at Vikings.Vikings win Incorrect 0
2. Rams at Seahawks.Seahawks win Incorrect 0
3. Chargers at Jaguars.Jaguars win.Correct2
4. Giants at Packers.Jameis fun/Packers win late.Correct (Giants had ball in the red zone late)2
5. Raiders at Cowboys.Cowboys win easily.Correct2

Darin now leads Ed by a single point, 53-52, as the season heads into its final third.

🔮 Week 12 Bold Predictions

The analysts now turn their attention to a critical Week 12 slate.

Ed Kleese's Week 12 Bold Predictions

Game Bold Prediction Rationale

1. Bills at Texans.Bills win in a close one. The Bills will pull it out late, as missing the injured C.J. Stroud makes it too tough for Houston's offense, despite their good defense. Less than 40 total points will be scored in the game.
2. Cardinals at Jaguars.The Cardinals upset the Jaguars. This will be a tough, unpredictable loss for the Jags, cementing their "roller coaster" path that will see them miss the playoffs.
3. Steelers at Bears. The Steelers win in a close one in Chi-Town.
4. Eagles at Cowboys. The Cowboys beat the Eagles. Ed likes the additions Dallas has made on defense (Easley, Wilson) and how they will neutralize the Eagles’ running attack.
5. Seahawks vs Titans.Seahawks bounce back from a loss last week to beat Tennessee by 20 plus points

Darin Hayes' Week 12 Bold Predictions

Game Bold Prediction Rationale

1. Bills at Texans.Bills sneak past Texans with a late field goal; total score under 35 points.Similar to Ed's pick, but adds the bold layer of a low-scoring defensive struggle (less than 35 total points).
2. Cardinals at Jaguars. The Cardinals upset the Jaguars. Arizona, led by Brissett, has been surprisingly competitive and will capitalize on the Jags' erratic form.
3. Chiefs at Colts. The Colts win by 10 or more points. The Colts are one of the hottest teams in the NFL, and the shaken Chiefs can no longer be trusted to "figure it out" against good opponents.
4. Eagles at Cowboys. The Cowboys beat the Eagles. The defensive additions Dallas made to shore up their run defense will be the deciding factor in neutralizing Philadelphia's primary strength.
5. Buccaneers at Rams. Buccaneers win by 10 or more points. The Rams are due for a "hangover" after their emotional win last week, giving the Bucs a significant edge.

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