The Kansas City Chiefs can make their claim for the sixth and final playoff spot if the Buffalo Bills lose to the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football. After the Chiefs 33-3 victory over the San Diego Chargers, the Chiefs sit at 5-5 on the season with four straight wins. They are currently a half game behind the Bills but if Buffalo falls in New England - they are 7-point underdogs - the Chiefs will be in the final playoff spot due to the tiebreaker of their AFC record.
It's incredible that this is where we sit after the Chiefs started 1-5. Not only do the odds favor the Chiefs to land in the sixth playoff spot after tonight but the rest of their schedule is very manageable. The Ravens lost Joe Flacco which makes that Baltimore game more likely to be a win for the Chiefs. They also play the Raiders twice.
Regardless of how the Bills-Patriots game turns out, next week's Bills-Chiefs game is looking like a big one. The Chiefs can get a stronger hold on their playoff bid by beating Buffalo. They're currently favored to do so.
Here's where things stand right now (and click here for the NFC playoff picture):
AFC Playoff Picture, Week 11
1. New England Patriots (9-0)
2. Cincinnati Bengals (8-2, 7-1 in AFC)
3. Denver Broncos (8-2, 4-2 in AFC)
4. Indianapolis Colts (5-5, head-to-head win over HOU)
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4)
6. Buffalo Bills (5-4, 5-3 in AFC)
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7. Kansas City Chiefs (5-5, 4-2 AFC)
8. Houston Texans (5-5, 4-3 AFC, head-to-head losses to IND & KC, win over NYJ)
9. New York Jets (5-5, 4-4 AFC, head-to-head loss to HOU)
11. Oakland Raiders (4-6, 4-3 AFC)
12. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-6, 4-4 AFC, head-to-head win over MIA)
10. Miami Dolphins (4-6, 2-5 AFC, head-to-head loss to JAX)
13. Baltimore Ravens (3-7)
14. Cleveland Browns (2-8, 2-6 AFC)
15. San Diego Chargers (2-8, 1-5 AFC)
15. Tennessee Titans (2-8, 0-6 AFC)
Chiefs remaining schedule
Week 12: Buffalo Bills (Nov. 29, 12 p.m., CBS)
Week 13: @ Oakland Raiders (Dec. 6, 3:05 p.m., CBS)
Week 14: San Diego Chargers (Dec. 13, 12 p.m, CBS)
Week 15: @ Baltimore Ravens (Dec. 20, 12 p.m., CBS)
Week 16: Cleveland Browns (Dec. 27, 12 p.m., CBS)
Week 17: Oakland Raiders (Jan. 3, 12 p.m., CBS)