The Kansas City Chiefs had perhaps their best performance of the season in a 27-19 win over the Houston Texans last Saturday.
Sunday's win over the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots cost the Chiefs a chance at the top seed in the AFC, giving them their only first-round bye in the NFL playoffs, but the Chiefs will have a chance to earn a first-round bye this Wednesday against New England. They could give themselves quite a Christmas present against the Patriots. Pittsburgh Steelers.
Or maybe the Bills give them the same gift over the weekend.
Here's how Kansas City will earn the AFC No. 1 seed in Week 17.
Chiefs 1st seed acquisition scenario
Simply put, a win against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day would clinch the conference's top seed, earn them a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Chiefs are nervous.
However, Kansas City could clinch first place in the conference in Week 17 with a loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday. A loss or tie for the Bills against the New York Jets on Sunday would be enough to clinch Kansas City first place in the AFC.
AFC standings heading into week 17
1.y-kansas city chiefs (14-1)
2.y-buffalo bills (12-3)
3.×-pittsburgh steelers (10-5, 7-3 AFC)
4.y-houston texans (9-6)
5.×-baltimore ravens (10-5, 6-4 AFC)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6, victory over DEN)*
7. denver broncos (9-6, lost to Los Angeles)*
8. indianapolis colts (7-8, 6-5 AFC wins over MIA)*
9. miami dolphins (7-8, 5-5 AFC, lost to IND)*
10. cincinnati bengals (7-8, 4-6 AFC)*
11. new york jets (4-11) — Eliminated
12. cleveland browns (3-12, 3-7 AFC. Victory over JAX) — Lost
13. jacksonville jaguars (3-12, won against TEN, lost 3-7 AFC, CLE) — Lost
14. tennessee titans (3-12, 3-7 AFC) — Lost
15. las vegas raiders (3-12, 3-8) — Eliminated
16. new England Patriots (3-12, 2-8) — Eliminated
Teams marked with an asterisk
excluded from division competition
Teams marked with (x) have qualified for the playoffs
The team marked with (y) won the division
