The 2015 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 46th in the National Football League (NFL), their 56th overall and their third under the head coach/general manager tandem of Andy Reid and John Dorsey.

The Chiefs went through a poor start in their first six games as they were 1–5, and lost their star running back, Jamaal Charles, to a torn ACL in his right knee during an 18–17 Week 5 loss at home against the Chicago Bears.

In week 16, after their ninth consecutive victory and the Baltimore Ravens defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Chiefs clinched a playoff berth, their second in three years.

[2] They also set the franchise record for the most consecutive victories, winning 10 in a row (which has since been eclipsed by the 2019–2020 Chiefs).

Cornerback Marcus Peters won Defensive Rookie of the Year after leading the NFL in interceptions.

The Chiefs would build a 17–3 lead at one point, but Chicago would pull off a miraculous comeback to win 18–17.

Rookie Marcus Peters would put the dagger into the Ravens, as he returned an interception 90 yards for a touchdown.

The Browns, led by Johnny Manziel, attempted a comeback to put a stop to Kansas City's playoff hopes, but Cleveland did not have any timeouts remaining, and they ultimately ran out of time when Manziel couldn't advance the ball down the field fast enough.

The Texans, who won the AFC South division with a 9–7 record, were completely crushed by the Chiefs.

After that, the game started to slow down, with both teams going three-and-out before a string of turnovers, Eric Berry's interception of Brian Hoyer, Brian Cushing's interception of Alex Smith two plays later, and a Hoyer fumble recovered by Dontari Poe on the ensuing drive.

The Chiefs made a field goal on the drive, and although the team was able to get to the 2-yard line, a negative run by J. J. Watt and another interception by Hoyer ended the Texans' closest chance at scoring in the entire game.

Although the Texans' defense forced a three-and-out, Hoyer threw his third interception to Marcus Peters on the second play of their drive.

The Chiefs, who had won 11 straight, travelled to Gillete Stadium to face the Patriots, who had advanced to the AFC Championship for the last five years.

The Patriots scored first blood with a Rob Gronkowski touchdown catch, followed by a Cairo Santos field goal for Kansas City.

The pattern was duplicated in the second quarter, with Tom Brady rushing for a score before Santos kicked another field goal.

In the third quarter, after Gronkowski scored his second TD, Alex Smith threw his first to Albert Wilson.