KC Chiefs: If Season Ended Today, Chiefs Would be in Playoffs

With the Monday Night loss to the Patriots, the Buffalo Bills now move out of the current AFC playoff picture, while the Chiefs take their place.

The Kansas City Chiefs improved to 5-5 on Sunday with a 33-3 win over the spiraling San Diego Chargers. The Chiefs have now won four straight games after starting the season 1-5, and almost everybody was ready to give up on them. Especially with their star player Jamaal Charles going down with his second ACL tear of his professional career.

Now, just a few weeks later, Charcandrick West is making a huge name for himself in his second year out of Abilene Christian. The defense is equally impressive so far this year. Eric Berry, who missed most of last season after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is back, and rookie cornerback Marcus Peters is quickly becoming one of the better corners in the AFC. He could very well win the defensive rookie of the year if he keeps it up. The defense as a unit has been pretty darn solid for most of the year.

The Chiefs are now in the AFC playoff picture after the Bills lost to the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football this past week. They are now in the second AFC Wild Card spot, though they are tied with the Bills, Texans, and Jets. In my opinion, the Chiefs are the best team out of the four sitting at 5-5 in the AFC.

Here are the current standings in the AFC as of Week 12:

1. New England Patriots (10-0) (Division leader)
2. Cincinnati Bengals (8-2) (Division leader)
3. Denver Broncos (8-2) (Division leader)
4. Indianapolis Colts (5-5) (Division leader)
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) (Wild Card)
6. Kansas City Chiefs (5-5) (Wild Card)
7. Houston Texans (5-5)
8. Buffalo Bills (5-5)
9. New York Jets (5-5)

Now the question is whether or not the Chiefs can hold onto their playoff spot.

Their remaining schedule looks like this:

Week 12: vs. Buffalo Bills

Week 13: @ Oakland Raiders

Week 14: vs. San Diego Chargers

Week 15: @ Baltimore Ravens

Week 16: vs. Cleveland Browns

Week 17: vs. Oakland Raiders

Honestly, the only games that I can see causing the Chiefs problems are the two matchups remaining with the Raiders. The Raiders are much improved this year after adding wide-outs Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree to the lineup this offseason. Both have proved to be great options for second-year quarterback Derek Carr. The three team up to be a pretty scary trio that could be good for many years to come if they stick together.

Other than those two games, the Chiefs don’t have much to overcome in my opinion. The Bills would be the only other team that I think COULD beat the Chiefs, but since they’re playing in Kansas City with a crowd that will be roaring for a win, I just can’t see that happening against one of the hottest teams in football.

Next: Priest Holmes Was Better Than Jamaal Charles

Do you think that the Chiefs will make the playoffs this year? Let me know what you think in the comments section below!