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When the final whistle sounded in Denver on Sunday afternoon, the Broncos celebrated their ninth win of the season.
Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs dropped to 5-5. It’s a record no one thought the reigning AFC champions would carry through 11 weeks of the 2025 regular season.
But that’s where these Chiefs find themselves with seven games left on the schedule. The words “panic level” are starting to creep up on morning TV and radio talk shows, and it’s fair to have the discussion.
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Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs drops back to 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 entertain the idea of panicking. The Chiefs may not be leading the AFC West or even in playoff position heading into Week 12, but Humphrey is confident about his group.
“I mean, for us, we have all the pieces. It’s just about executing,” he told Pakinomist 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 like the results. So for us, it’s about making sure we come in every day, take it one meet at a time, one practice at a time and just focus on the details.”
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The Chiefs were pretty hard on themselves after their loss to their division rival on the road. Patrick Mahomes kept using “I” when talking about what went wrong in the game, something he almost never does. But that’s the type of accountability mixed with the frustration that Chiefs leaders like Mahomes have in moments like these.
While Kansas City has had great success in recent seasons, Humphrey knows adversity comes with what it takes to win those Super Bowl titles. So little self-reflection and criticism is not a sign that the ship is sailing away from that goal this season.
Humphrey thinks it’s the exact opposite.
“You have to be your own harshest critic. You have to look in the mirror and see what’s going on. Everyone is doing it right now, so for us you don’t want to put the blame on other people,” he explained. “It’s, ‘What can I do better in the moment? What can I do better throughout the game to help this team win?’ I think everybody’s feeling that right now, and it’s good that nobody’s pointing fingers or anything.”
As Humphrey pointed out, “We’ve lost some close games,” and it’s not just some. All five of the Chiefs’ losses this season have been by seven points or fewer. And of these five, three have been with a field goal.
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 is understood throughout a building that understands what it takes to win titles. So Humphrey sees no panic in these chiefs. In fact, he knows that the players must continue to be themselves.
“I think it’s important not to lose our personalities,” he said. “If everybody starts getting excited, all that stuff, things aren’t going to go so 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.
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“Like last year, we got a lot of resilient players. A lot of guys who can do the right thing at the right moments.”
Humphrey’s words will be put to the test this week when they host an Indianapolis Colts team that has shocked the NFL with an 8-2 record coming off their bye week. The pressure is certainly on for Kansas City in such a tight AFC playoff push in the later weeks of the regular season, but it’s not like they haven’t been in this position before.
“We’re right there, it’s close, we can feel it,” Humphrey said. “… It’s taking it one day at a time, one meeting at a time, one practice rep at a time, one review rep at a time. All those things. It’s about living in the moment — not living in the past, not looking into the future. Just look at what’s in front of you and what your goal is for this week and that day.”
Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on from the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on October 6, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
OFFERS WORTH A CELEBRATION
While Humphrey looks to tackle the rest of the regular season and hopes to make the playoffs with his Chiefs, he loves what Dairy Queen has going on this week.
The Touchdown Celly deal, running now through Nov. 23, gives customers $3 off Dairy Queen’s signature Sauced & Tossed Chicken Strip Baskets — a firm favorite at Humphrey’s.
“The Sweet Chili Sauced & Tossed Chicken Basket> Great flavor on them, great crunch. The sides are great too and you always have to get a Blizzard when you’re there too. I always get the cookie dough Blizzard.”
While Humphrey always likes a good trade, he hopes to pull off his own touchdown celebrations in the coming weeks as the Chiefs embark on another shot at the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
