Kansas City’s playoff chances dimmed after the Colts revealed that Patrick Mahomes will face a revitalized Colts secondary with Sauce Gardner and the return of NFL All-Pro CB Charvarius Ward

Patrick Mahomes picked the worst possible week to run into an ex-teammate who can alter his chances of taking the Chiefs to the NFL playoffs.

The Chiefs are clinging to playoff hopes with a 5-5 record and now face an Indianapolis team that has stormed to an 8-2 start and quietly became one of the most balanced teams in the NFL. Just when the Chiefs are trying to pull themselves out of a two-game losing streak, the Colts activated veteran cornerback and former Chiefs DB Charvarius Ward off injured reserve.

Ward suffered a concussion during pregame drills in Week 6 after a collision with tight end Drew Ogletree. It was his second concussion of the season and he was sidelined for the Colts’ 40-6 win over the Raiders in Week 5, steamrolling a helpless Las Vegas team without star tight end Brock Bowers.

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While the matchup marks the return of one of the league’s top defensive backs, it’s also personal because Ward used to play for Kansas City and won a Super Bowl with the team.

Since becoming a key defensive player for Kansas City alongside Travis Kelce and during the Taylor Swift headline-driven Super Bowl LIV run, Ward has faced the Chiefs twice after leaving. He’s recording 12 solo tackles and four assists in those games.

The Chiefs have not missed the postseason since 2014, and the Mahomes-Reid pairing has never failed to reach playoff football and has already broken an unwanted record this season. The only Reid-era miss came with Alex Smith under center in his second season.

Ward’s injury history includes a quad strain in 2021 that cost him three games and a fractured hand in 2020 that sidelined him for one. He will now join a secondary that already features Sauce Gardner, Kenny Moore II, Cam Bynum, and Nick Cross.

The Colts rank right in the middle of the league in total defense at roughly 327 yards allowed per game, but they dominate on the ground by giving up only 92 yards, which is the fifth-best in the league. They allow just over 26 points per game, placing them ninth in the NFL.

Indianapolis already has 10 interceptions, giving them a top-five total in that category through 10 games.

They have forced fourteen turnovers overall with a pace that is only intensified with Ward back and returning to the stadium where he built his reputation. And they’re doing it without of of their best defensive tackles.

Kansas City’s defense has quietly also played elite football, giving up only 18 points per game (fourth) and allowing 296 yards per game (seventh).

The Chiefs are coming off a 22-19 loss to the Denver Broncos, while the Colts had a bye week to rest and reload.