With 7 games left in the regular season the AFC playoff picture is starting to shape up. The Jaguars, Texans and Bills are the only teams looking to be out of the playoffs this early, while the Chiefs, Broncos, Patriots, Bengals and Colts are making strong cases for their playoff hopes.
In the next few weeks the Chiefs can start clinching their way into the playoffs with a few more wins. With 7 games left, it is nice to have a 3-4 game lead over any potential wildcard so even if the Chiefs don't win the division they will still be set up nicely.
What place do you think the Chiefs will finish come Week 17? Home-field advantage for the playoffs would be very sweet, but first we need to get past the Broncos and Chargers, which won't be easy.
Current Contenders
*1st: Chiefs 9-0 (@DEN, SD, DEN)
*2nd: Patriots 7-2 (@CAR, DEN, @HOU)
3rd: Colts 7-3 (@TEN, ARI, TEN)
4th: Bengals 6-4 (CLE, @SD, IND)
WC1: Broncos 8-1 (KC, @NE, @KC)
WC2: Jets 5-4 (@BUF, @BAL, MIA)
*home-field advantage
On The Bubble
Dolphins 4-4
Ravens 4-5
Browns 4-5
Chargers 4-5
Analysis
The Chiefs and Broncos have the toughest next 3 matchups by far, playing each other twice and the Chargers and Patriots respectively. The Colts seem to have the easiest next 3 weeks, although Tennessee can turn the division around if they can get 2 on the struggling Colts. The race is still wide open, our home-field advantage chances should be decided in the next 3 weeks.