The Kansas City Chiefs can clinch a playoff spot by beating the Miami Dolphins at Arrowhead Stadium next week. It’s that simple for the Chiefs. They hold the head to head tiebreaker over the Chargers so they’re essentially 1.5 games ahead of them at this point with two more to play.
The Chiefs have just one AFC West loss and everyone else has at least three so the Chiefs would own any tiebreaker involving that. Just beat the Dolphins next week. That’s the easiest way for the Chiefs to win the AFC West. They can also do it by beating the Brock Osweiler (or Paxton Lynch)-led Broncos in Week 17.
A Chargers loss next week to the Jets could do it too. The Chargers then finish up hosting the Raiders.
The Chiefs are looking like they would be the No. 4 seed if they made the playoffs, which means they would host the No. 5 seed at Arrowhead on Wild Card weekend. Today that No. 5 seed is the Titans.
AFC West standings
1. Chiefs 8-6
2. Chargers 7-7
3. Raiders 6-7
4. Broncos 5-9
AFC playoff picture
1. Steelers (11-2)
2. Patriots (10-3)
3. Jaguars (9-4)
4. Chiefs (8-6)
5. Titans (8-5)
6. Bills (7-6)
The Ravens and Chargers are also 7-6.
NFC playoff picture
1. Eagles (11-2)
2. Vikings (10-3)
3. Rams (9-4)
4. Saints (9-4)
5. Panthers (9-4)
6. Falcons (8-5)
The Seahawks are also 8-5.