The Kansas City Chiefs are searching for answers

DENVER — A blowout loss followed by a fourth-quarter collapse in consecutive road games has sent the Kansas City Chiefs into a tailspin, and what comes next for the team of the decade is anyone’s guess.

The franchise that has dominated the NFL since quarterback Patrick Mahomes became its leader eight years ago is searching for answers after squandering a late 11-point lead Sunday night in a 28-24 loss to the Denver Broncos.

After Denver scored 15 consecutive points in the game’s final nine minutes — including a go-ahead touchdown with 1:56 remaining — it appeared Mahomes had engineered another of his signature come-from-behind wins that, along with Super Bowl championships, have defined his career to this point.

In what would have been a fitting closing act to one of his best performances of the season, Mahomes deftly marched the Chiefs to the Broncos’ 1-yard line. On fourth down with four seconds to go, Mahomes connected with wide receiver Rashee Rice in the end zone as time expired, igniting a celebration along the Chiefs’ sideline.

Ah, not so fast.

Officials called a false start on Chiefs right tackle Jaylon Moore, nullifying the apparent game-winning touchdown. The penalty pushed the Chiefs back 5 yards and added four seconds to the clock. Kansas City failed to capitalize on its final play; Mahomes was sacked to end the game.

Head coach Andy Reid preferred the outcome of the Chiefs’ first play on fourth down.

“I didn’t see it,” Reid said of the false start. “One man’s opinion. I saw him [Moore] move his head, but I didn’t see [a false start].”

Most of the 76,831 fans at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium lingered to celebrate a big Week 8 win over the Broncos’ visiting AFC West rival, elevating the Broncos (6-2) to the top of the division. Denver has won four straight games to strengthen its position approaching the midpoint of the season.

And the Chiefs, well, they’re headed in the opposite direction. Their 11 penalties for 105 yards certainly didn’t help against the Broncos.

In seasons past, the Chiefs would have made the plays needed to win Sunday. Their history has created that expectation.

Although they played much better than they did in their Week 7 flop against the Seattle Seahawks, the Chiefs have lost their way after a fast start this season. On the other hand, they have successfully navigated bumpy roads at various times throughout their long run of excellence. Anyone who chooses to overlook them does so at their own peril.

Clearly, Mahomes knows things aren’t going well for the Chiefs. It’s not in his nature to sugarcoat that.

But when you’ve won three Super Bowl championships and amassed a long list of other accomplishments, there’s a deep well of belief to draw from.

“I mean, obviously it’s a big game. I’m not going to hide from that. Now, you’re kind of in a dogfight for the division,” Mahomes said. “You just try to get better and better, so at the end of the year you’re playing your best football. … We’ve lost these last two games against two good football teams. We’ll learn from it.”

Early against the Broncos, the Chiefs showed they had learned from their humbling experience last week in Seattle.

They were much sharper than in their previous game — especially their best player.

With Rice and Moore back in the starting lineup after being sidelined against the Seahwaks due to injuries, Mahomes appeared more comfortable in the pocket and directing the offense. He went 30-for-41 for 321 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.

It was his second game this year with more than 300 passing yards and three touchdowns, coming eight weeks into his first season back after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery last December.

With less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter, Mahomes teamed with tight end Noah Gray on a 4-yard touchdown pass that helped the Chiefs take a 24-13 lead. But the Broncos were undeterred.

Denver quarterback Bo Nix led two touchdown drives, and the Broncos added a 2-point conversion to take a 28-24 lead. Meanwhile, struggling Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker missed a 54-yard field goal that would have given the visitors a 27-21 lead with 2:36 remaining.

More on Butker in a moment.

Following the Broncos’ final touchdown, the Chiefs got a 44-yard kickoff return from rookie running back Emmett Johnson, who had a breakout game with 128 receiving yards on five catches, including a spectacular 73-yard catch-and-run touchdown.

Mahomes needed just seven plays to lead the Chiefs to the Broncos’ 1-yard line. Then, he connected with Rice on what appeared to be a walk-off touchdown as time expired. Or so he thought.

Like Reid, Mahomes didn’t notice anything significant on the false start called on Moore.

“I have not seen it [on film]. But it didn’t catch me,” the 31-year-old quarterback said. “Like, it [Moore’s movement] didn’t surprise me or catch me or anything like that. So it couldn’t have been big, but it was called.

“I mean, at the end of the day, you have to go with whatever is called. But a lot of times in those big moments, the little stuff doesn’t get called.”

Of course, Butker missing the field goal — which has happened too often lately — changed the Chiefs’ strategy on their last possession. Instead of needing a touchdown, they could have won on a walk-off field goal.

“Just missed it,” Butker said. “[I] didn’t even give it a chance. … When I say bad miss, like just completely missed the ball. Didn’t even give it a chance. Didn’t feel good off the foot. Just not good.”

“Might have been one of my best weeks of practice,” he added. “… It was a good week of practice, but doesn’t matter — you’ve got to make them in the game.”

A key contributor to the Chiefs’ success during the Mahomes era, Butker has missed 16 kicks (11 attempted field goals and five PATs) since the start of last season — the most in the NFL during that span, according to research by The Associated Press.

Concerned by the 10-year veteran’s prolonged struggles, the Chiefs made the controversial move last week to sign five-time All-Pro kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad. Tucker did not play last season while serving a 10-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

The former Baltimore Ravens’ standout was accused of sexual misconduct by 16 massage therapists from eight high-end spas and wellness centers in the Baltimore area, according to The Baltimore Banner. The alleged misconduct reportedly occurred from 2012-16, during Tucker’s first five seasons with the Ravens.

Chiefs fans roundly criticized the signing. After Butker disappointed yet again Sunday, however, the team may make the even more unpopular move of actually replacing him with Tucker.

There’s a whole lot happening with the Chiefs. And make no mistake, most of it isn’t great.