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Kansas City Chiefs players probably don't want to mention the P-word yet but I think I'm ready to.
The playoffs.
The Chiefs are 9-1 so they're going to make the playoffs. The question is whether they will win the AFC West and likely be one of the top 1-2 seeds, which brings a first-round bye, or whether the Broncos will win the West and the Chiefs will end up a Wild Card.
The Broncos are now in first place in the AFC West when you bring the tiebreakers in. The Chiefs are in the fifth spot for playoff seeding purposes. The first four teams into the playoffs are the four division winners. After that there are two Wild Cards. The Chiefs are one of those two Wild Cards as of today.
Let's say the Chiefs don't win the AFC West. The Broncos win 13 or 14 games and finish in first place. They get a first-round bye, which means the Chiefs have to go on the road on the opening weekend of the playoffs.
If you take a look at the current standings (which I stole from Bronco Mike at Mile High Report)...
|
Team |
Seed |
Record |
AFC |
Division |
Remaining |
|
1 |
9-1 |
5-1 |
3-0 |
@NE, @KC, TEN, SD, @HOU, @OAK |
|
|
2 |
7-3 |
5-2 |
3-0 |
@AZ, TEN, @CIN, HOU, @KC, JAX |
|
|
3 |
7-3 |
4-2 |
3-1 |
DEN, @HOU, CLE, @MIA, @BAL, BUF |
|
|
4 |
7-4 |
5-3 |
2-2 |
BYE, @SD, IND, @PIT, MIN, BAL |
|
|
5 |
9-1 |
6-1 |
1-1 |
SD, DEN, @DC, @OAK, IND, @SD |
|
|
6 |
5-5 |
2-5 |
2-2 |
@BAL, MIA, OAK, @CAR, CLE, @MIA |
....the Chiefs are setting themselves up to play the Bengals, Patriots or Colts. On the road. If the playoffs started today (which they don't) the Chiefs would be playing the Bengals in Cincinnati.
Lots of things can change down the stretch. One losing streak from any of these teams changes everything. And one of them is probably going to have a losing streak.
But let's say that those are your options: at Cincinnati, at New England or at Indianapolis.
Where do you want to go?