KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Their two-game losing streak has dropped the Kansas City Chiefs to 7-5 and endangered their playoff chances. Here is our weekly look at the Chiefs’ place in the AFC playoff picture.
Where the Chiefs stand: They are 7-5 and in third place in the AFC West. They are one of six AFC teams with a 7-5 record.
If the season ended today: The Chiefs would not make the playoffs. The 8-4 San Diego Chargers would be the first AFC wild card team and the 7-5 Miami Dolphins would be the second. The Chiefs beat the Dolphins earlier in the season, but that wouldn't be the tiebreaking factor here because a third team, the 7-5 Baltimore Ravens, are also in the mix. Miami would get the wild card spot because it has a better record in games against AFC opponents than either the Chiefs or Ravens.
Chiefs this week and what it means: The Chiefs are at the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. While the game doesn't carry the tiebreaking implications that the Chiefs' other three remaining games will, they need the victory.
Other games to watch this week: The Chargers are home against New England on Sunday night. A Chiefs victory combined with a Chargers loss would move Kansas City back into a tie with San Diego for second place in the division. The Chiefs would have the tiebreaker for now over the Chargers because they won in San Diego earlier in the season. The rest of the schedule is also full of games between playoff contenders. The Dolphins are home against Baltimore, the 7-5 Buffalo Bills are at Denver, the 7-5 Pittsburgh Steelers are at Cincinnati and the 7-5 Cleveland Browns are home against the Indianapolis Colts.