Mahomes said he would take more ownership of this loss than any other game in his career. He put the Chiefs in a bad spot, he thought, and despite all the times he pulled the Chiefs out of bad spots this season during their string of one-score victories, Mahomes thought he did not play to his standards this season, especially when he struggled early in the year.

Mahomes said he would spend the offseason figuring out how to beat what defenses are doing to him.

“When defenses are going to stay back, I can’t make bad plays worse,” he said. “Sometimes I get to where I want to make a big play to spark us.”

He added he needed to learn to throw the ball away. And until he shows he will take what a defense will give him, they will continue to play back.

“They were going to make me be a fundamental quarterback,” Mahomes said. “Play from the pocket and take what they’ll give me. In order to make a team blitz, you have to beat what they’re showing.”

The reality for the Chiefs, of course, is that what most would help Mahomes is putting together a more effective offensive line. Even during this portion of the Chiefs dynasty, the offensive line has been a consistent concern, and it was overmatched against the Eagles’ front. On Sunday, the Eagles could pressure with just four rushers. The most critical sequence for the Chiefs occurred midway through the second quarter. Already trailing 10-0, the Chiefs gave up consecutive sacks to Josh Sweat and to Sweat and Jalyx Hunt together. Facing third-and-16, Mahomes tried to put the ball into a tight window for DeAndre Hopkins. DeJean stepped in front of it and was off, headed for a touchdown.

“No, they didn’t show any different looks,” said Chiefs center Creed Humphrey. “They didn’t show anything un-scouted. It just came down to them coming out and playing harder.”

It was Humphrey who said it was never about the three-peat for him. Each team is different and he wanted to win one for this group.