The Kansas City Chiefs' loss to the Cincinnati Bengals wasn't primarily because of Patrick Mahomes' poor play in the second half.

The main reason the Chiefs lost was because they couldn't get any pressure on Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.

Burrow was sacked 19 times in the playoffs. Only one of those sacks came from Kansas City. If the Chiefs would've had an effective pass rush against Cincy, they would've played the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI instead of the Bengals.

Kansas City has to improve their pass rush this offseason. And unfortunately for Chiefs fans, the franchise missed a major opportunity to make an improvement this week.

The Los Angeles Chargers got away with robbery this week by landing future Hall of Fame pass rusher Khalil Mack from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 sixth-round pick. That's not a lot to give up for a player who was on pace for 14.5 sacks last year.

Mack, who just turned 31, is exactly the type of player the Chiefs need in 2022 if they're going to make another Super Bowl run. He can still play at an elite level and wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks.

The Chiefs could've sent a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 fourth-round pick (maybe throw in a 2023 seventh-round pick as well, since KC's second-round pick is at the end of the round) to Chicago for Mack. That's not a lot to give up for an elite pass rusher.

Landing Mack would've allowed the Chiefs to release Frank Clark without worry as well.

Clark, who massively underperformed in 2021, is due $26.3 million in 2022. If Kansas City releases him after 6/1, the dead cap hit is only $6.4 million (and another $6.4 million in 2023). The Chargers are only paying Mack $17.75 million in 2022, which means the Chiefs actually would've saved around $2 million in cap space in 2022 by making this deal. They could then restructure his deal for the final two years of the contract in 2023 and 2024.

(Mack had a Pro Football Focus grade of 73.0 last year, while Clark had a grade of 54.3.)

Not only did the Chiefs whiff on this potential deal, but now they have to face Mack twice a year in the AFC West!

If the Chiefs want to make a splash at the edge rusher position, their best bet now might be to pursue free agent linebacker Von Miller, who said last year that he was tired of losing to the Chiefs (while he was still a member of the Broncos).

But even if KC lands Miller, it will be hard to think about what could've been with Mack.

Featured image via Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports