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KC Chiefs News: Regular Season Finale And Playoff Scenarios

By Leigh Oleszczak

Dec 27, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs fans cheer against the Cleveland Browns in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City won the game 17-13. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs fans cheer against the Cleveland Browns in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City won the game 17-13. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /
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KC Chiefs news this morning fixates on the Kansas City Chiefs playing their final game of the regular season on Sunday, and what could go down in the playoffs.

Well, Chiefs fans, it’s been an interesting season. From having strong hope that this team could be a legitimate playoff contender to dropping to a 1-5 record to winning nine straight games and making it to the playoffs, this has been a season to remember.

Kansas City hosts the Oakland Raiders on Sunday in what will be one hell of an end to the season. Oakland wasn’t the same team we’ve been used to seeing over the past decade or so, as they were actually very competitive.

The Raiders played well against the Chiefs in week 13 until Derek Carr threw three interceptions in the final quarter. Kansas City won that game 34-20, but it was much closer than the score indicated. Expect a similar battle on Sunday, as the Raiders would love nothing more than to play spoiler to the Chiefs in the final battle this season.

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The Chiefs, despite clinching a playoff berth, still have a lot to play for in their final game of the regular season. The starters will play in this one, and it’ll be the first time that Alex Smith has played in a season finale since the 2011 season when he was with the San Francisco 49ers.

Smith was benched in 2012 in favor of Colin Kaepernick, was rested during his first season as a Chief in 2013 due to locking up the highest spot they could manage, and had a lacerated spleen in 2014.

All right, getting back to the playoff picture.

If the season ended before the week 17 match-ups, Kansas City would hold the fifth spot in the AFC playoff picture and would travel to Houston to play the Texans. That scenario can still happen if the Chiefs win, and if the Broncos win.

If the Broncos lose, and the Chiefs win, then Kansas City becomes the AFC West winner and would host either the New York Jets or Pittsburgh Steelers at Arrowhead. Speaking of the Jets, if the Chiefs lose, but the Jets win, Kansas City would fall to the sixth spot and would then travel to Cincinnati.

Got it? Good.

Here are KC Chiefs news and notes from around FanSided.com.

Kansas City Chiefs: Is This Secondary Best In NFL [Alec Tilson, KC Kingdom]

"While everything starts up front with Dontari Poe, Justin Houston, Tamba Hali, Allen Bailey, Jaye Howard and the rest of the guys moving bodies in the trenches, this Kansas City Chiefs secondary is the total package in its own right."

Can the Kansas City Chiefs do the impossible? [Nick Floyd, Arrowhead Addict]

5 NFL teams on upset alert in Week 17 [Cody Williams, FanSided.com]

Now, check out these posts from around the rest of the world wide web.

NFL playoff scenarios: Ranking Chiefs potential foes, from the Jets to the Steelers [Joel Thorman, Arrowhead Pride]

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Even with playoff spot assured, Kansas City Chiefs will play to win vs. Raiders [Dave Skretta, Fox Sports]

"You see, the Chiefs (10-5) are already headed to the playoffs after a one-year absence, and might be best served to play a lesser opponent on the road as a wild-card team. But if they beat the Raiders (7-8) and Denver loses to San Diego in a game happening at the same time, the Chiefs would win the AFC West and get a potentially tougher opponent at Arrowhead Stadium."

What to take from all of this is that the KC Chiefs need to pull out a win on Sunday. They can’t lose and have the Jets win, because then they’ll fall to the sixth spot and would travel to face a tougher Cincinnati squad.

Next: Predicting the 2015 Season Schedule

Give me the Texans please.

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