Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua sparked debate after joking about Travis Kelce’s relationship with Taylor Swift following the Kansas City Chiefs’ playoff elimination.
Kansas City missed the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2014 after a 16–13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The defeat dropped the Chiefs to 6–8 in the 2025 season and ended a decade-long postseason streak. It also snapped nine straight AFC West titles, a crown now likely heading to the Denver Broncos.
Losses late in the season, combined with wins by the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars, sealed Kansas City’s fate. Head coach Andy Reid and the front office now face a difficult reset.
Speaking on a livestream hosted by Adin Ross and N3on, Nacua pointed to several on-field issues before adding a lighthearted jab. “They didn’t have Rashee Rice, who was their other receiver this year,” Nacua said. “I don’t feel like they ran the ball well.”
🚨🚨THIS IS CRAZY🚨🚨#Rams star Puka Nacua BLAMES TAYLOR SWIFT for why the Kansas City #Chiefs missed the playoffs this season.
“It's got to be the Swift curse…”
Oh boy… 😳😳😳
pic.twitter.com/ncaF1w8XK9
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) December 17, 2025He praised Isiah Pacheco’s effort but suggested the team lost momentum. “Pacheco played really well,” he said. “It’s gotta be the Swift curse. They ran out of the juice.” Nacua also highlighted problems up front. “Remember how bad their line was?” he added.
Mahomes’ Injury Deepens the Chiefs’ Crisis
Kansas City’s problems grew worse when Patrick Mahomes suffered a devastating knee injury in the loss. Medical tests later confirmed tears to both his ACL and LCL. Despite the setback, Kelce insisted the team would continue competing over the final three games of the season.
“That’s the game for you,” Kelce said on the New Heights podcast. “When you need things the most, they don’t always fall your way. You go back to the drawing board.” The Chiefs will face the Tennessee Titans, host the Broncos on Christmas Day, and close the season against the Las Vegas Raiders on January 4.
Read: Patrick Mahomes Suffers Torn ACL as Chiefs’ Playoff Hopes End
Chiefs vice president of sports medicine Rick Burkholder said Mahomes underwent successful surgery in Dallas. Doctors found no damage to arteries, nerves, cartilage, or joint surfaces. Rehabilitation will begin with swelling control and muscle activation before moving into position-specific training.
“Every player is different,” Burkholder said. “With Patrick, he attacks rehab with incredible focus.”
The medical staff believes Mahomes’ disciplined lifestyle and training habits could speed up his recovery. He has previously returned ahead of schedule after serious injuries in 2019 and 2022.
Read: Stephen A. Smith Suggests Travis Kelce Could Retire for Taylor Swift
After Mahomes exited against the Chargers, backup Gardner Minshew failed to move the offence into scoring range. The loss officially ended Kansas City’s playoff hopes.
