NFL.com just released the playoff-clinching scenarios for all qualifying teams that hope to make it to the postseason this year. That includes the Kansas City Chiefs and what it’ll take for them to make the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.
For many other teams, the clinching scenarios are long and a little complicated. For Kansas City, however, it’s very simple.
The Chiefs can clinch their fourth consecutive AFC West division championship and punch their ticket to the postseason with a victory over the New England Patriots OR with an Oakland Raiders loss to the Tennessee Titans.
One or both of these scenarios are very possible to play out this weekend.
New England won the first two meetings against Patrick Mahomes and company but the Pats are 1-2 against AFC teams with a winning record this season.
They defeated the 3-1 Buffalo Bills back in Week 4 but lost to Baltimore last month and recently wound up on the wrong side of the scoreboard to Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans last Sunday night.
Mahomes could be next in line to finally get the best of Tom Brady and Head Coach Bill Belichick.
However, if the Chiefs are not able to get it done against New England, the Tennessee Titans, who beat the Chiefs earlier this season, could do Kansas City a favor by knocking off the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.
This could is very possible since the Raiders have fallen into a slump on the road, suffering blowout losses to both the New York Jets and the Chiefs over the last two weeks.
The Titans have been playing a high level of football since making the switch to Ryan Tannehill as the starting quarterback. Tennessee still has plenty to play for since they’re not in contention for a wildcard spot just yet. But at 7-5 and just a game back, the Titans have their eyes set for the division crown as things tighten up in the AFC South.
Considering the slump Oakland is in and now they’ll be defending against the power running of Derrick Henry, it could be a long day for Jon Gruden’s team.
But let’s hope the Chiefs can win the division themselves rather than relying on some outside forces and besides, it’s payback time for the AFC Championship last year.
