Somehow, someway, the Chiefs have earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
Despite the fact that Kansas City has looked far from the powerhouse program that has dominated the NFL in recent history, the team enters Week 18 with just one blemish on its record. With a 14-1 mark, Andy Reid’s team is guaranteed to have a bye in the first round of the playoffs, making the regular season finale a relaxing one for the two-time defending Super Bowl champions.
Patrick Mahomes has looked far from his MVP self, as the offense has yet to score more than 30 points in a game this season. But between a stout defense and quite a few lucky bounces going their way, the AFC is going to have to run through Arrowhead Stadium in order to reach a Super Bowl.
With the No. 1 seed, Kansas City is going to have to wait longer than normal to find out its opponent. No matter how the field shakes out, the Chiefs will face the lowest remaining seed alive once the bracket reaches the divisional round.
However, with a plethora of scenarios for the wild-card field to shape out, it leaves the Chiefs with a number of potential opponents in the playoffs. The Sporting News breaks down all of the scenarios
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Who will the Chiefs play in the playoffs?
The Chiefs have already secured the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, ensuring their bye to the divisional round. The team will face the lowest remaining seed following the wild-card round.
Since not every wild-card team is locked in entering Week 18, that leaves Kansas City with a plethora of potential opponents in its first playoff game.
Houston Texans
This one is by far the easiest potential path to figure out a Chiefs’ opponent as the league enters Week 18.
Let’s make it simple for you — while there are a dizzying amount of scenarios for the wild-card field to shape out in the AFC, in this case, ignore it completely. Let’s flash forward through the wild-card round and pretend that all three wild-card teams, no matter who they are, lose to their respective division winners.
That includes whoever earns the No. 5 seed that would face the Texans, who in turn are already locked in as the No. 4 team in the conference. If the No. 2 seed Bills, No. 3 seed (either Ravens or Steelers) and the No. 4 seed Texans all win, Houston is the lowest remaining seed, and would draw Kansas City.
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Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are one of the potential teams to face the Chiefs after missing out on the AFC North title.
Mike Tomlin’s crew cannot finish as the No. 7 seed, so it will be either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed. The Steelers would finish as the No. 6 seed is if the Chargers beat the Raiders, since Pittsburgh lost to Cincinnati.
In order to draw the Chiefs, the Steelers have to win their wild-card round game and need the remaining lower seeds to lose. That means either the No. 6 and No. 7 seeds fall if Pittsburgh is No. 5, or just the No. 7 seed loses if the Steelers are the No. 6 seed.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are locked into a wild-card spot. Los Angeles will end up as either the No. 5 seed or the No. 6 seed in the AFC.
The lone way for Jim Harbaugh’s crew to wind up as the top wild-card team is if the Chargers beat the Raiders and the Steelers lose to the Bengals in Week 18.
If Los Angeles is the No. 5 seed, in order to face its division foe in Kansas City, the club would have to defeat No. 4 Houston and see both the No. 6 and No. 7 seeds lose in the wild-card round. If the Chargers are the No. 6 seed, then what it needs is a win over the No. 3 seed and a loss for the No. 7 seed. Both of those scenarios would have the Chargers are the lowest remaining seed in the conference still alive.
Denver Broncos
The Broncos are currently the No. 7 seed in the AFC but are not guaranteed a playoff spot. Luckily for Denver, the team controls its destiny.
Sean Payton’s crew can clinch the final wild-card spot with a win over the Chiefs in Week 18. If the Broncos lose, it would also need the Dolphins to lose or tie against the Jets, and the Bengals to lose or tie against the Steelers.
If the Broncos make it as the No. 7 seed, an upset win over the No. 2 seed Bills would result in a matchup against the Chiefs.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are currently outside of the playoff picture, but the team can sneak in as the No. 7 seed in the AFC.
Mike McDaniel’s team can take the final wild-card spot with a win over the Jets in Week 18, but the Broncos must also lose to the Chiefs. Even with a win over New York, a win or tie for Denver would keep them as the No. 7 seed and send Miami home early.
If the Dolphins make it as the No. 7 seed, an upset win over the No. 2 seed Bills would result in a matchup against the Chiefs.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are currently outside of the playoff picture, but there is an outside chance the team can sneak in as the No. 7 seed in the AFC. However, it needs some help
The lone way Joe Burrow and company can claim the final wild-card spot is if the Bengals beat the Steelers, and the Dolphins and Broncos both lose their matchups. Despite winning its Week 18 matchup, there’s no way for Cincinnati to get in if Denver wins or ties or if Miami wins.
If the Bengals make it as the No. 7 seed, an upset win over the No. 2 seed Bills would result in a matchup against the Chiefs.
Eliminated opponents
Baltimore Ravens
The only way the Chiefs could have faced the Ravens first was if Baltimore failed to win the division. After the Ravens clinched the AFC North on Saturday, it secured the No. 3 seed, which is one of the seeds the Chiefs are guaranteed not to see until the conference championship.
