AFC Playoff Picture: Chiefs' Clinching Scenarios in NFL Week 17
By Joe Summers
The Chiefs took a brutal loss to the Raiders on Christmas Day but luckily, Santa still left some presents under the tree.
Kansas City might not have a path to the No. 1 seed any longer, yet the AFC West is still ripe for the picking and the Chiefs can clinch the division title as soon as this week.
Let's take a look at the playoff scenarios and where the Chiefs stand.
AFC Playoff Picture: Where the Chiefs Stand
The Chiefs playoff scenarios are still very cut and dry. A win or tie in their last two games or a Denver loss/tie plus a Las Vegas loss/tie and they clinch the AFC West.
— Matt Derrick (@mattderrick) December 26, 2023
To claim No. 2 seed, KC must win next two while Miami loses to Ravens & Bills, and Bills lose/tie to NE. https://t.co/VIjOBSS7SM
The division is almost a guarantee. Kansas City just has to win one game to end the race, though the path for a high seed in the playoffs is admittedly murky.
In all likelihood, the Chiefs will be the No. 3 seed. Theoretically, they could earn the No. 2 seed if the Patriots beat the Bills and the Dolphins lose their last two games, though that feels a bit far-fetched.
It does indeed appear that Patrick Mahomes will finally have to play a road playoff game. Current scenarios project a matchup with the Bills, though there's a lot of potential results depending on the next few weeks.
This is a rough stretch for the Chiefs. A win against the Bengals would get the organization back on track, but improvements need to be made.
Christmas is over but FanDuel Sportsbook is keeping the gifts rolling with a $150 bonus if the Chiefs win this week! Bet $5 or more (with a $10 deposit) on the Chiefs to win and you'll get $150 in bonus bets if they do. Sign up for FanDuel now!
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