KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — In many ways, it was a dream for Kansas City, going from 2-14 and the first pick in the NFL draft to 11-5 and a spot in the playoffs. Yet it ended in just about the most nightmarish way possible, a second-half collapse in Indianapolis. No wonder the Chiefs had such a hard time summarizing their season in the minutes and hours after a gut-wrenching 45-44 loss to the Colts on Saturday.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Sunday that players “had their hearts ripped out.” It was the eighth straight playoff defeat for the franchise, which still hasn’t won a playoff game since 1993. Reid promised the Chiefs would assess the season and then turn attention to next year, when they hope to finally end their playoff skid.