AFC playoff picture: KC Chiefs can clinch No. 1 seed in Week 17

With the end of the regular season finally coming into view, the Kansas City Chiefs are finally seeing some scenarios in which they can figure out their way to coveted postseason positions. Specifically, the Chiefs (along with others) have the conference’s top seed in their sights but only K.C. is in full control of how things will work out. In fact, everything could come together as soon as this weekend.

When the Chiefs take the field at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday afternoon, their first order of business is to come away with a victory over the Bengals to maintain their grip (sole possession at that) on the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Unfortunately for K.C., some early season frustrations have kept them from already sealing it up.

The Tennessee Titans are still within a single game of the Chiefs and Mike Vrabel’s team owns the tiebreaking scenario thanks to a dominant midseason victory over Kansas City that was likely the lowest point for Andy Reid’s team this season. That means the Chiefs can ill afford to let up on the gas.

The Kansas City Chiefs have a chance to clinch the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a week left.

The Chiefs were able to clinch a postseason berth already, so they’ve punched their ticket to keep playing beyond the regular season. Their sixth consecutive AFC West title is a feat in itself and they earned that impressive mark with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16.

To take this next step and clinch the top seed (which comes with the only first-round bye in the conference) this week, the Chiefs will need either a tie or a win versus the Bengals. Then they will need some help from the Miami Dolphins, who are on the road against the Titans. A Titans’ loss mixed with a Chiefs non-loss will mean Andy Reid’s team can rest easy before they can, well, rest easy.

If the Titans beat the Dolphins and/or the Chiefs lose to the Bengals, then things will remain interesting in Week 18 when the Chiefs visit the Broncos, a team who would like nothing more than to spoil the plans of their division rivals. Either way, the most important thing is for K.C. to focus on handling their own affairs. Whether it’s one or two wins left, if they can maintain their present streak, they’ll own the top seed either way.