If Mahomes can’t shake his slump, the Chiefs’ playoff dreams could vanish in Indy in a way fans won’t see coming.QQ

THE Kansas City Chiefs can’t afford for Patrick Mahomes to continue his struggles in their Week 12 game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Andy Reid and the Chiefs own a 5-5 record and would brutally fall under .500 with a potential loss to the 8-2 Colts.

The Chiefs wouldn’t be in the playoffs if the season ended after Week 11 – a predicament the reigning AFC champion team would never have envisioned.

The game at Arrowhead against the red-hot Colts is crucial for the Chiefs, who are coming off a loss to the Denver Broncos in which Mahomes struggled.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a tough game against the Los Angeles Rams, who are riding a five-game winning streak.

Also featuring this week is the heated rivalry matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys.

Can the Chiefs bounce back and return to their usual winning ways? Can the Bucs upset the Rams on Sunday Night Football?

Those questions and more were answered on this week’s episode of The U.S. Sun Sport’s Ain’t That Our Ball.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS VS KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

The Colts have an electric offense, which is led by Daniel Jones, who has been one of the best comeback stories in the NFL.

However, Indy has gotten MVP-like production from running back Jonathan Taylor, who is coming off a 244-yard rushing performance against the Atlanta Falcons in their last game.

“I think everything is functioning so well because of that offensive line, and Jonathan Taylor… has been incredible this year. He looks like he should be an MVP,” host David Scott said.

“And then Daniel Jones is up there with the candidates as well.”

The Chiefs, meanwhile, have been “very iffy” on offense, says NFL expert Ryan Sanudo.

The team has failed to eclipse 21 points in their last two games, and Sanudo believes the struggles fall on both the offensive line and Patrick Mahomes, who was sacked three times and threw an interception last weekend.

“I think [the blame] starts with the offensive line and then Patrick Mahomes. I think [he] should be doing better. I feel like he was really good earlier in the year, but recently he’s been iffy with his throws,” he said.

“Things haven’t been in rhythm with Mahomes.

“I feel like he’s been missing deep balls here and there, and he’s been forgetting about the middle of the field, too.”

Still, Sanudo believes the Chiefs will win as four of their five wins have come at home, and the Colts could be rusty after enjoying the bye week.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS VS LOS ANGELES RAMS

The primetime matchup between the Bucs and Rams features two of the best quarterbacks, Baker Mayfield and Matthew Stafford.

But the Rams and the 37-year-old Stafford have the true edge in this contest, according to Sanudo.

“Everything on [the Rams] offense has been seamless. And it starts [because of] Stafford. He is the MVP favorite,” he said.

Scott agreed, saying that the Bucs’ defensive line “is a bit suspect” and that the secondary “is pretty weak.”

Tampa Bay’s defense allowed 44 points to the Buffalo Bills last week.

The Buccaneers have lost two in a row, continue to deal with injuries, and have received up-and-down performances from Baker Mayfield.

“They’re gonna have to do a lot to keep up in this game,” Scott added.

“Baker Mayfield has been slowing down a bit.”

The Rams utilize superstar wideout Puka Nacua, who’s third in the league in receptions despite missing one game, while Tampa Bay hasn’t gotten the same spark that rookie Emeka Egbuka provided earlier this season.

“I feel like [Mayfield and Egbuka] aren’t connecting like earlier this season,” Sanudo said.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES VS DALLAS COWBOYS

Bragging rights are at stake between the Eagles and Cowboys, both teams coming off wins in Week 11.

And the Cowboys, not the defending Super Bowl-champion Eagles, have one of the best offenses in the league.

Scott believes Prescott is “balling out” and “gets too much hate” as he’s on pace to win Comeback Player of the Year.

“I think the Cowboys offense, top to bottom, I love it. George Pickens has been providing contribution after contribution every single week,” Sanudo then said.

“CeeDee Lamb, he’s missed a couple games, but he’s fit in quite well.”

But he doesn’t believe in the Cowboys’ defense, which is facing an Eagles defense that is one of the best in the league.

However, Scott has Dallas pulling off the upset at home and could see them making the playoffs.

Sanudo, on the other hand, thinks the Eagles, who have been inconsistent offensively, will have a “get-right” game against the Cowboys’ disappointing defense.

“I think [the Cowboys] are going to push forward hard and I want to see them back in the playoffs because I do think they are really an exciting team,” Scott said.