The NFL playoff picture has been updated after Week 13 (with the Colts-Jets on Monday Night Football to come) and the Kansas City Chiefs remain in the fifth seed. The Chiefs are the top AFC Wild Card team because the Raiders, who visit Arrowhead on Thursday night, are one game ahead of the Chiefs.
If the Chiefs beat the Raiders on Thursday, they will be the new leader in the AFC West due to their head to head wins over the Raiders. The Chiefs are also currently 3-0 in the AFC West if it comes down to tiebreakers.
The Raiders are the top seed in all of the AFC followed by the Patriots. Yes, it still seems insane to me that the Raiders are now good. It’s been so long but I wouldn’t have it any other way. They and the Patriots are slated for first round byes if they remain there. That would be significant, especially for the Patriots, who are playing without the injured Rob Gronkowski.
The Chiefs would play the Texans again if the playoffs started today. I feel confident in saying they would whoop them. It’s not just a playoff win they seek though. They want to have multiple playoff wins to reach a Super Bowl. The best way to do that is homefield advantage, which is what makes this Thursday’s game so huge.
Find the NFC playoff picture here.
AFC playoff picture
1. Raiders (10-2)
2. Patriots (10-2)
3. Ravens (7-5)
4. Texans (6-6)
5. Chiefs (9-3)
6. Broncos (8-4)
In the hunt
7. Dolphins (7-5)
8. Steelers (7-5)
9. Bills (6-6)
10. Titans (6-6)