NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
When the final whistle blew in Denver on Sunday afternoon, the Broncos were celebrating their ninth victory of the season.
Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs fell to 5-5. It’s a record no one imagined the defending AFC champions would achieve through 11 weeks of the 2025 regular season.
But that’s where these Chiefs find themselves, as they have seven games left on the schedule. The words “panic level” are starting to appear on morning talk shows on television and radio, and it is right to have this debate.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs returns to the block during an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders at Arrowhead Stadium on October 27, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
However, Chiefs veteran center Creed Humphrey says his team won’t listen to them, or even consider the idea of panicking. The Chiefs may not be leading the AFC West or even in playoff position heading into Week 12, but Humphrey has confidence in his group.
“I mean, for us, we have all the pieces. It’s just about executing,” he told PK Press Club Digital, while discussing his partnership with Dairy Queen. “We have to execute better, and that’s all we know right now.
“If we do that, we’re going to enjoy the results. So for us, it’s about making sure we come in every day, take one meeting at a time, one practice at a time, and just focus on the details.”
BRONCOS TAKE LEAD OF AFC WEST WITH VICTORY AS CHIEFS’ PLAYOFFS HOPES RECEIVE HUGE BLOW
The Chiefs were pretty hard on themselves after losing to their division rival on the road. Patrick Mahomes kept using “I” to talk about what was wrong with the game, which he almost never does. But that’s the type of responsibility mixed with frustration that leaders like Mahomes feel in times like these.
Even though Kansas City has had a lot of success in recent seasons, Humphrey knows that with adversity comes what it takes to win those Super Bowl titles. So, a little introspection and criticism is not a sign that the ship is moving away from that goal this season.
Humphrey thinks it’s exactly the opposite.
“You have to be your most critical self. You have to look in the mirror and see what’s going on. Everybody’s doing that right now, so for us, you’re not going to blame other people,” he explained. “It’s, ‘What can I do best right now? What can I do better throughout the game to help this team win?’ I think everyone feels that way right now, and it’s good that no one is pointing fingers or anything.”
As Humphrey pointed out, “We lost some close games,” and it’s not just a few. All five of the Chiefs’ losses this season have been by seven points or less. And among these five, three were achieved by a basket.
Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs plays against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of the game at EverBank Stadium on October 6, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
But the margin for error is slim every week in this league, and Humphrey knows all too well that one mistake in those critical moments can be the difference between a win and a loss.
It’s part of a building that understands what it takes to win titles. Humphrey therefore does not see any panic among these leaders. In fact, he knows that players must continue to be themselves.
“I think it’s important not to lose our personality,” he said. “If everyone starts getting tense and stuff, things aren’t going to go as well. Like you said, it’s a game we’ve all been playing since we were five, six years old. It’s about executing it and doing it with swagger.
CHEFS’ TRAVIS KELCE HAS WORDS WITH BRONCOS DEFENDER DURING PIVOTAL DIVISION GAME
“Just like last year, we have a lot of resilient players. A lot of guys who can do the right thing at the right time.”
Humphrey’s words will be put to the test this week when they host an Indianapolis Colts team that shocked the NFL with an 8-2 record as they come off their bye week. The pressure is certainly on for Kansas City in such a tight AFC playoff campaign in the final weeks of the regular season, but it’s not like they’ve never been in this position before.
“We’re here, it’s close, we can feel it,” Humphrey said. “…It’s about taking it one day at a time, one meeting at a time, one rehearsal at a time, one rehearsal at a time. All of those things. It’s about living in the present – not living in the past, not looking to the future. Just look at what’s in front of you and what your goal is for that week and that day.”
Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs watches from the sidelines during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on October 6, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
A DEAL WORTH CELEBRATION
As Humphrey looks to head into the rest of the regular season and hopes to make the playoffs with his Chiefs, he’s loving what’s happening at Dairy Queen this week.
The Touchdown Celly deal, running through November 23, gives customers $3 off baskets of Dairy Queen’s signature gravy and tossed chicken strips – a big Humphrey’s favorite.
“The chicken basket sauced and mixed with sweet chili > Great flavor, nice crunch. The sides are amazing too, and you always have to have a Blizzard too, when you’re there. I always get the Cookie Dough Blizzard.”
While Humphrey always loves a good deal, he hopes to host his own touchdown celebrations in the coming weeks as the Chiefs fight for another shot at the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
