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The biggest takeaway from the Kansas City Chiefs 24-20 loss to the Oakland Raiders is that it hurts their chances of a home playoff game. The Chiefs would need to win the AFC West over the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers to achieve that but this loss hurts.
The Chiefs are still in decent position to make the playoffs. Heading into Week 12, Five Thirty Eight had their playoff chances at 83 percent. Their formula had the Chiefs playoff chances falling to 68 percent with a loss. That's still a solid percentage...
ESPN's playoff picture has the Chiefs currently holding the sixth playoff spot with a 7-4 record. The Steelers are in the fifth playoff spot, and the Chiefs will play them in Week 16 of this season. The Chiefs will also play the 6-4 Dolphins and Chargers, who are two spots behind the Chiefs in the AFC playoff picture. Baltimore and Cleveland are the other two 6-4 teams. The Chiefs do not play them but hold a better conference record, which is the next tiebreaker in line after head to head records in this case.
The Chiefs will likely be 'dogs against the Broncos next week and the following week against Arizona. If they lose both those games and beat the Raiders after that, they would sit at 8-6 with two games against potential playoff contenders in Pittsburgh and San Diego. Those would probably become must win games. Or the Chiefs could go out and win three straight against the Broncos, Cardinals and Raiders to go to 10-4. You just never know, as we saw on Thursday night in Oakland, how these games will go.
Use ESPN's playoff machine to play with Chiefs playoff scenarios.
There is plenty of football to play. The Chiefs will face the Broncos next on November 30 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs must win that game if they have any hope of contending in the AFC West. If they lose, they are going to be in a fight for a Wild Card spot.
AFC West standings
1. Denver Broncos (7-3)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (7-4)
3. San Diego Chargers (6-4)
4. Oakland Raiders (1-10)
Remaining schedules
Broncos: Dolphins, at Chiefs, Bills, at Chargers, at Bengals, Raiders
Chiefs: Broncos, at Cardinals, Raiders, at Steelers, Chargers
Chargers: Rams, at Ravens, Patriots, Broncos, at 49ers, at Chiefs