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Kansas City Chiefs: AFC playoff picture after week 17

By Leigh Oleszczak

KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 30: Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) leaps onto Justin Houston (50) after Houston strip-sacked Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) early in the second quarter of an NFL game between the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs on December 30, 2018 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - DECEMBER 30: Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) leaps onto Justin Houston (50) after Houston strip-sacked Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) early in the second quarter of an NFL game between the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs on December 30, 2018 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Kansas City Chiefs controlled their own destiny heading into the regular season finale and they took advantage of that, blowing out the Raiders and winning the number one overall seed in the AFC playoffs.

The path to the Super Bowl on the AFC side of the playoff bracket will go through Arrowhead Stadium, as the Kansas City Chiefs took care of business against the Raiders and won’t play for two weeks now.

It was getting a little too close for comfort as far as the playoff race went for KC after they dropped two games in a row. The Chiefs got the job done, however, and now will have next week off to sit back and rest up before hosting the AFC Divisional Round the following weekend.

Let’s take a look at the official AFC playoff picture.

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (12-4) – BYE
  2. New England Patriots (11-5) – BYE
  3. Houston Texans (11-5)
  4. Baltimore Ravens (10-6)
  5. Los Angeles Chargers (12-4)
  6. Indianapolis Colts (10-6)

The Chiefs held on and grabbed the number one seed while the Patriots once again secured a first round bye. Both those teams will be eagerly awaiting the results of next week’s games to see who they’ll be welcoming in for the Divisional Round.

The Texans host the Colts on the early game on Saturday in what is, in all fairness, the weakest game on the Wild Card schedule. It still should be a decent game, as these two are AFC South members and are familiar with one another.

The early game on Sunday is the Ravens hosting the Chargers in a rematch of what was a fun game a few weeks ago. The Chargers were the hot team heading into that one, having just knocked the Chiefs off at Arrowhead, but Baltimore pulled off the win.

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If teams play to their seeds, KC would host the Ravens and the Patriots would host the Texans, but I doubt that happens. The Colts defeated Houston a few weeks ago and I really think the Chargers will be hell bent on revenge. Both away teams could easily advance.

The Chiefs can’t host the Texans, but the other three teams are all realistic candidates to come into Arrowhead Stadium for what will be an insane atmosphere in two weeks.

If I had to put money down on who I think would win those two match-ups, I’d predict the Ravens narrowly beat the Chargers and that the Colts win in Houston. LA definitely could beat the Ravens and tend to play better on the road anyway, so I don’t think going to a hostile environment like Baltimore would phase them much.

All-Time Chiefs Leaders in Sacks. dark. Next

What are your thoughts on the AFC playoff picture, Chiefs fans? Is there a particular team you’d like to see come into Arrowhead for the AFC Divisional Round?

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