AFC Playoff Picture: Chiefs could play Raiders for third time

The Chiefs and Raiders would play for a third time in the playoffs given the current AFC playoff picture.

Given the competitive nature of the first two games, the National Football League would likely love it if the current AFC Playoff Picture held true. That’s because the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders would somehow be scheduled to play against each other—yet again—in the opening round of the postseason if the regular season ended today.

After Week 11, we can make a clean AFC Playoff Picture due to Monday Night Football including two NFC teams—the L.A. Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Looking at the current scenario, the Chiefs and Raiders would play each other as the No. 2 and No. 7 seeds overall. Let’s take a look at the current seeding:

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-0)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1)
3. Buffalo Bills (7-3)
4. Indianapolis Colts (7-3)
5. Tennessee Titans (7-3)
6. Cleveland Browns (6-4)
7. Las Vegas Raiders (6-4)

Remember, two new rules are in play here that brings together a third potential matchup between the AFC West rivals. That’s a sort of “planets aligned” scenario, but alas here we are.

First, the NFL has instituted a seventh team from each side will now get into the postseason. This means that typically the Raiders, even at 6-4 with wins over teams like the Chiefs and New Orleans Saints, would be on the outside looking in. Not only does it make the middle of the pack much more competitive down the stretch, but it adds hope to other teams currently outside the playoff picture—including the Baltimore Ravens.

Second, the NFL also decided to remove the single most important element separating contenders: the first-round bye. Instead of awarding it to two teams, only the top overall seed in each conference will get to sit at home. In this instance, the Steelers have run the tables on their opponents in 2020 and until they are knocked off by someone, the Chiefs are stuck in the No. 2 seat (thanks to those same Raiders).

Right now, the Chiefs are comfortably in the No. 2 seed, and they’re applying constant pressure on the Steelers. Unfortunately the schedule doesn’t ease up for them anytime soon with upcoming games against the Bucs, Saints, and Dolphins.

There’s a lot of football left to play this season, but it would be fascinating to see two teams who have already beaten each other this season in highly competitive games go to toe to toe once again.