Patrick Mahomes suffered a severe left knee injury in the closing minutes of a 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, a defeat that officially eliminated the Chiefs from playoff contention for the first time since 2014.

The injury occurred with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Trailing by three points and attempting to engineer a game-winning drive, Mahomes scrambled out of the pocket to extend the play.

As he moved toward the sideline, he was chased down by Chargers defensive end Da'Shawn Hand. Mahomes' left leg appeared to buckle awkwardly as he was brought to the ground. The two-time NFL MVP immediately clutched his knee, silencing the stunned home crowd, according to People.

Medical staff rushed to the field, and after several minutes of assessment, Mahomes was helped to his feet. Unable to put weight on his left leg, he was assisted off the field and taken directly to the locker room with a towel draped over his head.

"It didn't look good," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said in his post-game press conference, his tone somber. While Reid initially stated the team would wait for testing, reports late Sunday confirmed the team's worst fears: an MRI revealed a torn ACL, ending Mahomes' season and casting a long shadow over the franchise's immediate future, ESPN reported.

Following Mahomes' exit, backup quarterback Gardner Minshew stepped in with 1:53 left on the clock. Minshew's attempt to rally the team ended abruptly when his final pass was intercepted by Chargers safety Derwin James, sealing the victory for Los Angeles and confirming the Chiefs' elimination.

The loss drops the Chiefs to a 6-8 record, concluding a tumultuous season that saw the defending champions struggle to find their rhythm. For the first time in his career as a starter, Mahomes will not lead his team to the postseason, as per USA Today. The injury adds a bitter finality to a year that had already been defined by uncharacteristic struggles on offense.

As the Chargers celebrated a season sweep of their division rivals, the focus in Kansas City shifted entirely to the rehabilitation of their superstar quarterback. The injury marks the end of an era of invincibility for the Chiefs, who now face a long offseason filled with questions about recovery timelines and roster reconstruction.

Originally published on Enstarz