Chiefs will face backup quarterbacks in each of their final regular-season games
There is no question the Chiefs’ road to the top seed in the AFC playoff field is full of speed bumps and potholes, but they still have an opportunity to get home-field advantage through postseason.
The website Playoff Status gives the Chiefs a 13% chance of getting the top seed, while the New York Times puts it at 20%. That number jumps to 49% if they win their final four games.
The Chiefs still need to clean up a number of issues (turnovers, dropped passes and penalties), but it could help that they won’t see two of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the coming weeks.
In fact, the Chiefs close the regular season by facing teams that will start a backup quarterback.
Sunday at Patriots: Bailey Zappe has replaced the ineffective Mac Jones
Dec. 25 vs. Raiders: Rookie Aidan O’Connell took over for Jimmy Garoppolo*
Dec. 31 vs. Bengals: Joe Burrow is on IR (wrist injury); Jake Browning is starting
Jan. 6 or 7 at Chargers: Justin Herbert is on IR; Easton Stick is starting
*As of Wednesday morning, O’Connell was expected to start but the Raiders were shut out Sunday and Garoppolo could see playing time
Herbert’s season officially came to an end Tuesday after having surgery on his right index finger, which was broken Sunday against Denver.
Winning the final four games won’t be easy as the Chiefs have lost four of their last six games. In particular, the Bengals, 7-6, have played well since Browning took over, and they are in the thick of the playoff race.
If they finish 4-0, the Chiefs will claim an eighth straight AFC West title. But it doesn’t guarantee they’d get the top seed.
The Chiefs are two games behind the Baltimore Ravens and one behind the Miami Dolphins in the AFC standings. One factor working in the Chiefs’ favor is the strength of schedule of the teams above them in the AFC.
Baltimore has the most difficult closing stretch in the NFL and Miami’s remaining games are ranked as the third-most difficult.
Chiefs fans will be rooting for the Jets and Jaguars to win this weekend.
Here is a closer look at the contenders for the top seed. The percentage chance of being the No. 1 seed is from PlayoffStatus.com, while each team’s remaining strength of schedule has been calculated by Tankathon.com.
Baltimore Ravens
Record: 10-3
Ranking in AFC: First
Conference record: 6-3
Chance of being top seed: 57%
Change from last week: Up 30%
Strength of schedule rank: 1st
Opponents: at Jaguars; at 49ers; vs. Dolphins; vs. Steelers
Miami Dolphins
Record: 9-4
Ranking in AFC: Second
Conference record: 6-3
Chance of being top seed: 17%
Change from last week: Down 14%
Strength of schedule rank: Third
Opponents: vs. Jets; vs. Cowboys; at Ravens; vs. Bills
Kansas City Chiefs
Record: 8-5
Ranking in AFC: Third
Conference record: 6-2
Chance of being top seed: 13%
Change from last week: Down 16%
Strength of schedule rank: 29th
Opponents: at Patriots; vs. Raiders; vs. Bengals; at Chargers
Jacksonville Jaguars
Record: 8-5
Ranking in AFC: Fourth
Conference record: 6-4
Chance of being top seed: 7%
Change from last week: Down 3%
Strength of schedule rank: 27th
Remaining opponents: vs. Ravens; at Buccaneers; vs. Panthers; at Titans
This story was originally published December 13, 2023 at 8:23 AM.
