Chiefs

Is it too early to think about the Chiefs’ playoff position, tiebreakers? No

By Blair Kerkhoff

Updated October 15, 2018 3:10 PM

Maybe the Chiefs won’t lap the AFC field after all.

The Chiefs’ 43-40 loss to the Patriots on Sunday Night Football not only ended the perfect season but also cost them a chance to have a two-game lead on the next team in the AFC.

But at 5-1 the Chiefs maintain the conference’s best record. The two-loss teams are the Patriots, Dolphins, Chargers, Ravens and Bengals.

It’s never too early to think about tiebreakers, and the Chiefs lost theirs to the Patriots with Sunday’s outcome. If the teams finish with the same record, New England would be seeded ahead of Kansas City in the playoffs.

Tiebreaker implications add importance to the Chiefs’ game this week against the 4-2 Bengals. A Cincinnati victory at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday would allow the Bengals to match the Chiefs’ record and give them the tiebreaker edge.

The game marks the second straight for the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football, bringing the number of prime time appearances this season to six.

The current AFC playoff seeds: 1. Chiefs (5-1), 2. Patriots (4-2), 3. Bengals (4-2), 4. Titans (3-3), 5. Chargers (4-2). 6. Ravens (4-2).

The details

Bengals at Chiefs

When/where: 7:20 p.m. Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium

TV/Radio: NBC (Ch. 41), KCFX (101.1 FM)

Line: Chiefs by 6

A look back

According to the Boston Globe, the Patriots became the first team in NFL history to not punt and not be assessed a penalty in a game.
The Patriots have allowed at least 40 points three times in the last five seasons, all to the Chiefs.
The Chiefs’ 40 points was the most scored in a regular-season loss in regulation. The Chiefs lost to the Seahawks 51-48 in overtime in 1983. In 2013, they fell to the Colts 45-44 in a playoff game.
The Chiefs hadn’t trailed at end of the first quarter until falling behind 10-6 to the Patriots.

Patriots set an NFL record tonight, becoming the first team in the Super Bowl era to not punt or commit a penalty in an entire game
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 15, 2018

Viewership soars

Chiefs-Patriots pulled a 14.6 national overnight rating, the best for a Sunday Night Football game since Week 1 of 2017. In Kansas City, the game drew a whopping 49.6 rating and 67 share. The numbers in Boston: 34.3/51. But remember the Red Sox were playing in the American League Championship Series at the same time. Rounding out the top five markets: Providence, New Orleans and Denver.

Player availability

Three Chiefs position players made their first start of the season against the Patriots: outside linebacker Breeland Speaks, safety Jordan Lucas and guard Jordan Devey. Tremon Smith also started as the kick returner for the first time and impressed with a 97-yard return. And Andrew Wylie finished the game at guard after a concussion sidelined Mitch Morse.

Who returns for the Bengals? We’ll know more this week about the availability of outside linebacker Justin Houston and Tanoh Kpassagnon, who was a game day scratch. Also, safety Eric Murray missed the Patriots game because of an injury.

The Bengals may have received some bad news Monday. Ian Rappaport of NFL Network and NFL.com reported that linebacker Nick Vigil will miss a month with a sprained MCL.

The #Bengals are expected to be without prolific LB Nick Vigil for about a month, source said, as he suffered a sprained MCL on Sunday. It came on a cut block in the first quarter.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 15, 2018