AFC playoff picture: The Chiefs have real chance at No. 2 seed
By Grant Tuttle
The remaining schedule
In the race to the 2019 NFL playoffs, there are a few unanswered questions. On the AFC side of the playoff picture, the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots were two of the favorites to go to a Super Bowl this season. Now, they find themselves duking it out for the second seed behind the Baltimore Ravens who have been led by Lamar Jackson in a stellar, unprecedented, and likely MVP season.
While the NFL can be more unpredictable than most sports, I don’t believe that anyone could have projected this kind of end to the season on the AFC side of the bracket. With Baltimore needing to win just one of their last two games to seal their fate as the number one seed, the attention now turns to the Chiefs, the Patriots and maybe even the Texans.
For the Chiefs, it’s simple, if they can win in their final two games of the season, they will be locked into the third seed if no one else loses. Here is what Kansas City’s next two weeks look like:
Kansas City:
Week 16: At Chicago Bears
Win probability: Moderately High
Chicago has been a weird team this season. Kansas City has been weirder. The Chiefs have more talent and have strung together more wins for a number of reasons. Lately, the Bears have been on an upswing due to better quarterback play. Unfortunately for them, the Chiefs are playing their best football of the season. If this game was in Kansas City, people may be picking a runaway victory for the Chiefs, but the Bears may have enough talent and crowd noise to keep it interesting at home.
Week 17: Los Angeles Chargers
Win probability: High
In a moment in which Kansas City controls its own destiny, they can’t afford to lose to a team that has underperformed as badly as the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chiefs are at home, Philip Rivers looks like he is 50, and the Chiefs have been rolling. It would be difficult to imagine the Chiefs dropping this one at home.
New England:
Week 16: Buffalo Bills
Win probability: Moderate
Buffalo has an excellent defense. The problem has been and likely will continue to be how wildly inconsistent and occasionally non-existent their offense has been. New England has looked vulnerable lately and Tom Brady hasn’t played a great defense since playing the Bills in Buffalo earlier this season. While I would lean Patriots, the Bills should have a real chance of winning this one, even if it is in Foxborough.
Week 17: Miami Dolphins
Win probability: High
Miami looked like one of the worst teams to ever play the sport earlier in the season. Now, they have found some momentum, but it hasn’t equated to much. The Patriots, should win this one handily against the lowly Dolphins, but with Ryan Fitzpatrick throwing the football, no one knows what could happen. Miami has surprised New England before.