No seed is locked up in the AFC ahead of the regular season finale, which features make or break games across the NFL landscape.
The Chiefs’ last-second loss to the Cincinnati Bengals cost them the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Here’s a look at the playoff picture ahead of a pivotal Week 18.
The Tennesse Titans now hold the lone-bye in the AFC. With the tiebreaker over Kansas City, the road is really simple for the Titans. Win and the conference runs through Nashville at Nissan Stadium. The Titans play the Houston Texans at noon Sunday. The Texans were able to upset the Titans 22-13 in Week 12. Another upset would be handy for the Chiefs in making a third consecutive Super Bowl appearance.
The Chiefs matchup with its division rival Denver Broncos, who they defeated 22-9 in Week 13. The Chiefs will need another big upset to clinch a first-round bye, but it wouldn’t be the first time they needed some assistance.
The 2019 season ended with the New England Patriots getting upset by the Miami Dolphins. The Chiefs took care of business against the Los Angeles Chargers and took the first-round bye against the odds.
This was very significant in winning their first Super Bowl in fifty seasons, but the Chiefs will need some more division madness to secure a bye and home-field advantage.
The Chiefs are projected to play the Chargers currently in the first-round matchups. However, their Week 18 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday Night Football will show who plays the Chiefs.
Both teams sit at 9-7 and their matchup will likely be must-watch TV since it is ‘win or go home.’ Their matchup will be the most significant and noteworthy and one to cap off the AFC playoff seeding.
From the No. 3 to No. 5 seeds, they all hold the same record. Currently, the Bengals hold the third seed, and they play the Browns after clinching the AFC North last week.
The Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots are projected to the matchup at the No. 4 and 5 seeds. The Bills look to clinch the division against the four-win New York Jets. The Patriots will travel to Miami to play the Dolphins.
Another team that needs to clinch is the No. 6 seed Indianapolis Colts. The Colts are fortunate in playing the Jacksonville Jaguars who have suffered from more off-the-field headlines than on it.
Week 18 still leaves a lot to be desired for several AFC teams. The No. 3 through 7 seeds control their destiny in seeding, with all seven seeds up for grabs and not clinched. The big matchup to watch will be who can be the second team out of the AFC West between the Chargers and Raiders. One may get a third opportunity at the Chiefs won have the AFC back-to-back.
