The Kansas City Chiefs are 9-0 for the third time in franchise history, including the first time since 2013. It was an ugly win in Week 10 to get there, but a win nonetheless. The Chiefs trailed the Denver Broncos for the majority of the game and didn't take their first lead until there were less than six minutes to play in the final quarter.
Obviously, the play of the game was the Chiefs' special teams unit blocking the Broncos' potential game-winning field goal attempt at the buzzer. It was also the Chiefs' first game of the season without a giveaway.
After the tenth week of the 2024-25 NFL season, which teams are currently in a playoff position, which teams are just on the outside looking in, and which teams are already out of the playoff race?
AFC Playoff Standings, Week 11
1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-0)
2. Buffalo Bills (8-2)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2)
4. Houston Texans (6-4)
5. Baltimore Ravens (7-3)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (6-3)
7. Denver Broncos (5-5)
In the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (4-6), Cincinnati Bengals (4-6), Miami Dolphins (3-6), New York Jets (3-7), and New England Patriots (3-7).
The Ravens outlasted the Bengals in a classic on Thursday Night Football. The Chiefs stunned the Broncos after a game-winning blocked field goal. The Bills coasted past the Browns after a horrible game by Joe Flacco. The Patriots' defense shut down the Bears in a road upset. The Steelers beat the Commanders due to Russell Wilson's clutch play down the stretch.
In a bizarre finish, the Jaguars handed victory to the Vikings when Travon Walker committed an inexplicable unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. While the Chargers started slowly against the Titans, they found their rhythm and ultimately cruised to victory. The Jets were thoroughly dismantled by the Cardinals. In a weird game, the Lions overcame five Jared Goff interceptions to erase a 16-point deficit against the Texans. The Dolphins won a snoozefest against the Rams on Monday Night Football to cap off the week.
The Ravens' offense is awesome, but their defense will be a major problem come playoff time. The Bengals have now made a habit of blowing games late. The Chiefs will always find a way to win, while the Broncos found a way to lose. The Bills played well, but the real test will come against Kansas City this week.
The Colts might as well return to Anthony Richardson, as Joe Flacco will not lead this team to the playoffs. The Patriots aren't a playoff team this season, but their defense showed promise. The Steelers won't be an easy out when the playoffs come around, but they are still not a Super Bowl threat.
Travon Walker's game-deciding blunder encapsulated his tenure as the Jaguars' first overall pick from 2022. The Titans are destined for a top draft pick while the Chargers remain in the Wild Card hunt. The Jets' brief spark of promise last week fizzled into yet another rock-bottom performance. Meanwhile, the Texans' collapse revealed their true standing in the AFC hierarchy. The Dolphins may have won, but questions remain about if they are legitimate playoff contenders.
An early look at AFC playoff odds
According to Team Rankings, the Chiefs remain the heavy favorites to secure the AFC's #1 seed with a 66.4% chance. Following them are the Bills at 22.6%, while the Steelers (6.4%) and Ravens (2.1%) are next.
The Chiefs also remain the AFC leaders in Super Bowl LIX odds with a 16.6% chance to win it all. They're followed by the Bills at 13.4%. The Ravens are next at 7.7%, while the Steelers (4.8%), Chargers (2.7%), and Texans (2.3%) are right behind them.
The Chiefs are a complete football team. There have been a lot of games over the years won by the offense and many games in recent years won by the defense, but the team owes this victory to special teams. In a game where the offense and defense let the team down, the special teams made the play of the game, stealing the win for Kansas City.
Next week is arguably the most important remaining game of the regular season. They'll travel to Buffalo to take on their arch-rivals. If they win, they'll pretty much have the #1 seed locked up. Even if they lose, the Chiefs will still control their own destiny. A win on Sunday will give the team ample margin for error down the stretch.