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Week 17 AFC Playoff Picture: Kansas City Chiefs Hoping for Some Help
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ Christmas Eve win over the Seattle Seahawks not solely secured Andy Reid’s squad one other 12-win season, but it surely additionally allowed the staff to maintain ahold of its present standing within the AFC playoff discipline.
With simply two video games left to play for each staff within the league, division and wild card races are starting to tighten up. The margin for error is remarkably slim, even for high-ranking groups like Kansas Metropolis. Patrick Mahomes and firm have a Week 17 matchup towards the Denver Broncos developing and can shut out the 2022 common season in Las Vegas towards the Raiders, so let’s check out the place they stack up beforehand in comparison with the remainder of the AFC in an up to date playoff image.
1. Buffalo Payments (12-3)
Coming off a 22-point win over the Chicago Bears regardless of Josh Allen not taking part in his finest recreation, the Buffalo Payments flexed their muscular tissues as among the best groups in soccer on Saturday. Due to a Week 6 win towards the Chiefs, Sean McDermott’s staff has a tiebreaker over Kansas Metropolis for the highest seed within the convention and will probably be trying to maintain on to that spot on Monday Evening Soccer because the Cincinnati Bengals come to go to. A loss and a Chiefs win might trigger Buffalo to drop all the way down to the No. 3 spot, whereas a win would maintain the Payments on the one-seed.
2. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (12-3)
The Chiefs managed their playoff future after a Week 12 win over the Los Angeles Rams, however a loss the next week to the Bengals allowed the Payments to leapfrog them as soon as once more within the convention standings. Now, all Kansas Metropolis can do is deal with enterprise and hope that Cincinnati can defeat Buffalo on Monday. That will enable the Chiefs to reclaim the No. 1 spot, however a loss and a Bengals win would make the Chiefs the three-seed. This week’s slate of video games is essential for your entire high three.
3. Cincinnati Bengals (11-4)
Contemplating their present rating, nobody has extra to achieve atop the record than the Bengals. Joe Burrow has led them to 11 wins on the yr however with win No. 12 and a Chiefs loss this weekend (the aforementioned win over Kansas Metropolis is a tiebreaker), that might make Cincinnati the brand new one-seed within the AFC. A loss, although, complicates issues and will enable the Baltimore Ravens to swap locations with them within the AFC North. This week’s matchup at residence towards the Payments is a pivotal one for Zac Taylor’s staff, because it might assist form the playoff path of a number of different groups within the course of.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-8)
Using excessive after profitable three video games in a row, the Jacksonville Jaguars have reworked from a 4-8 staff whose season and playoff hopes had been seemingly on life help to a bunch that might be the AFC South champs if the season ended as we speak. Due to their Week 14 win over the Tennessee Titans that began this streak, Doug Pederson’s Jaguars have a tiebreaker over their rivals. The division might come all the way down to a season-ending Week 18 rematch, so there’s nonetheless a ton to play for in Duval County.
5. Baltimore Ravens (10-5)
Regardless of having gained three of their final 4 video games, it has been comparatively powerful sledding for the Ravens as of late. With quarterback Lamar Jackson nonetheless nursing a knee damage, the Tyler Huntley-led offense (predictably) simply hasn’t regarded the identical. The hope for Baltimore is that Jackson can return both this week or subsequent in an effort to get his legs again beneath him earlier than the playoffs arrive, but it surely stays to be seen whether or not the Ravens can discover their mojo once more. They’ve lots left in entrance of them this season, so weathering the storm can be advantageous.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)
Brandon Staley’s Los Angeles Chargers dominated the Indianapolis Colts en path to a 20-3 win, clinching a playoff spot for the primary time since 2018. Behind younger star quarterback Justin Herbert, Los Angeles’ wild card standing serves as each a reminder of how inconsistent this group may be but in addition a warning to the remainder of the league that this could possibly be a spoiler staff within the coming weeks. With back-to-back matchups towards lowly groups remaining on the regular-season schedule, it is all about taking part in for seeding and staying wholesome for the Chargers.
7. Miami Dolphins (8-7)
The Miami Dolphins held a scorching 8-3 report at one level, however Mike McDaniel’s squad has misplaced its final 4 video games and is now all the way in which down at 8-7. With quarterback Tua Tagovailoa within the NFL’s concussion protocol early within the week and a street outing towards the still-alive New England Patriots developing, issues might get very scary if the Dolphins do not snap out of their chilly spell quickly. It would not get an incredible deal simpler to finish the season, because the New York Jets boast among the best defenses in all of soccer. Miami as soon as regarded like a second-tier contender within the AFC, however now Tyreek Hill and firm are scrapping to easily cling on to their playoff spot.
The Relaxation: New England Patriots (7-8), New York Jets (7-8), Tennessee Titans (7-8), Pittsburgh Steelers (7-8), Las Vegas Raiders (6-9)
This record of groups has numerous strengths and weaknesses, in addition to differing probabilities of making the playoffs. The Raiders and Steelers are firmly on the skin trying in, with the Jets additionally needing a great deal of assist in an effort to get in. Tennessee has a good shot resulting from that Week 18 recreation towards Jacksonville, and New England at the moment boasts a 19% likelihood of securing a wild card spot per FiveThirtyEight. Of this group, a wholesome Titans staff (which is not the case proper now) would probably be the best menace to the Chiefs.