Five keys for the KC Chiefs to keep the AFC’s top seed

The Kansas City Chiefs won an epic showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night. That win, when combined with losses over the weekend for the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans, has put the Chiefs in the driver’s seat for the number one seed in the AFC and the all-important first-round bye in the playoffs.

Just last week I ranked all the top AFC teams. While the rankings will continue to adjust as teams win and lose, what I wrote about most of those teams last week still holds true.

The Chiefs are peaking at the right time. Meanwhile, other teams that were seen as potential Super Bowl threats earlier in the year are fading as the season goes on. While things may have shifted greatly in K.C.’s favor over the last month, it’s still possible that the Chiefs will have to run the table in order to secure the top seed. With games against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, and Denver Broncos remaining, that is possible but not a sure thing.

Here’s how the Chiefs can keep the AFC’s top seed

So what do the Chiefs need to do over the final three games in order to ensure they win out and lock up that first-round bye? The Chiefs can’t control what happens with the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans from here on out. All they can control is their games. I think every Chiefs fan who is reading this believes they have enough talent that they absolutely should win these games if they have a smart plan and execute like we know they are capable of.

So here are the five keys that the Chiefs need to follow in order to win out and lock up a first-round bye. Unsurprisingly, it all starts with Patrick Mahomes.