Chiefs Still Have Something To Play For Against Raiders In Week 17

The Kansas City Chiefs have clinched a playoff spot, clinched the AFC West and clinched a home playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium.

And it's just Week 16.

The Chiefs, though, still have something to play for next week against the Oakland Raiders. Currently, the 10-5 Chiefs hold a one-game lead over the 9-6 Indianapolis Colts for the third seed in the NFL playoff picture.

A Chiefs loss combined with a Colts victory would give Indy the third seed and the Chiefs the fourth seed via the head-to-head tiebreaker. A Chiefs victory would confirm them as the third seed. There's that and a few other reasons the Chiefs need to win on Sunday.

I'd rather play the Jets. Things can change but it's looking like we've got a good shot of seeing the Ravens as the fifth seed and the Jets as the sixth seed. If it were up to me, I'd rather face the Jets. That means the Chiefs would need to maintain their one-game lead over the Colts in the playoff picture.

8-0 at home. The Chiefs are currently 7-0 at home and I think everyone would be proud of an 8-0 record at home. For folks who attend home games, that's an awfully nice stat.

Beating the Raiders. Who doesn't like to beat the Raiders?

It'll be interesting to see the approach the Chiefs take this next week. A playoff berth is wrapped up so would they consider being a little more protective of some of their key players next week? I'm not saying it would be a pull-all-your-starters situation we've seen with the Colts in previous years but maybe giving some linemen or a running back (or a quarterback) a few extra plays off.

I say that but we all know what Todd Haley will be saying next week -- Week 17 against the Raiders is the 'biggest game of the year'. I imagine they'll want some momentum heading into the playoffs and I'm sure they remember the loss to Oakland earlier this year.