Predicting how the AFC playoff picture will turn out in ’22
By Grant Tuttle
We’re all down about the Bengals beating the KC Chiefs once again, but the Chiefs might still hold down home-field advantage.
It’s that time of year. It is officially time to start looking at playoff scenarios. After losing their grip on the top spot this week after yet another late-season loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Chiefs are no longer holding the top spot in the AFC. With all of that in mind, they may gain control of it once again.
Kansas City is locked in a place where they no longer control their own destiny. The fanbase will become fans of every team that the Bills play from now until the end of the year. There are still a number of really big games left on the schedule in terms of AFC playoff implications.
Let’s discuss the remaining schedules for the teams and the scenarios that remain.
Kansas City Chiefs (9-3)
If the season ended today: #2 Seed
Remaining schedule: @ Broncos, @ Texans, Seahawks, Broncos, Raiders
Analysis: The Chiefs have the easiest schedule of the remaining teams in the playoff picture. The teams that they have remaining have a combined record of 16-31-1. While the Seahawks and Raiders are streaky, getting to play the Broncos and Texans at this point in the year should have the Chiefs counting their blessings.
The Chiefs have the capability of gliding to yet another #1 seed if they can win out and get a loss from the Bills. Patrick Mahomes is going to make his closing case for why he should be this year’s MVP and Kansas City is going to be playoff bound once more. While the Bengals seem to give them fits, they may get to avoid playing them until later in the playoffs if the seeding falls their way.
Prediction: Chiefs luck into a #1 Seed
The Chiefs have lost dumb games that they had no business losing all throughout the Andy Reid era. I would be stunned if they dropped a game to end this season. With Geno Smith being the best quarterback left to face, the defense will have plenty of opportunities to get it right in time for the playoffs. I look for the Chiefs to somehow make the Super Bowl run through Arrowhead once again.