The Chiefs may not have played a game during the Wild Card round but they were still the biggest winners of the weekend. Thanks to a few surprising developments, the playoffs could not be off to a better start for Kansas City as the organization tries to secure a three-peat.
They'll host the Texans on Saturday and are huge favorites, having just beaten Houston 27-19 in Week 16. This isn't a team that should scare the Chiefs despite an impressive win over the Chargers. Not only is it a relatively easy matchup, but results from other postseason games benefitted Kansas City as well.
Baltimore and Buffalo will square off on Sunday in a fierce matchup. Since the Chiefs play on Saturday, they'll have an extra day of rest over their opponent in a potential AFC Championship Game. Throw in an underwhelming effort by the Eagles and a difficult game for the Lions coming against the Commanders and so far, everything is turning up in the Chiefs' favor.
Chiefs Big Winners of Wild Card Weekend Despite Not Playing
The stage is set.
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 13, 2025
See you in our place Saturday, Chiefs Kingdom! pic.twitter.com/434KAekoez
After having more than three weeks off thanks to resting in Week 18 and the first-round bye, the Chiefs should be the healthiest they've been all year. The Ravens and Bills will be locked into a tough, physical game. Whoever wins will have one fewer day of rest than Kansas City, and it's expected that the Chiefs would be favored at home should they advance to the next round.
There are legitimate questions still about Kansas City's offensive line, though other contenders have more significant issues to address. Neither Lamar Jackson nor Josh Allen have ever beaten the Chiefs in the playoffs and that'll be a significant storyline for whoever moves on.
Of course, Kansas City still has to beat Houston before any of this matters. C.J. Stroud and Nico Collins are an excellent duo and the Texans' defense is stout, yet this still feels like a tune-up game before the real festivities begin.
As 7.5-point favorites, the Chiefs are the second-largest favorite next week behind the Lions (-8.5 vs. the Commanders). They have the second-best odds to win the Super Bowl (+350) at FanDuel Sportsbook but based on how this last weekend went, those odds should keep moving in Kansas City's direction.
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