The Kansas City Chiefs are used to having their struggles in the regular season, as they are usually able to get right and make it to the AFC Championship Game at minimum on a yearly basis. But this season is much different, as they don't have their usual stranglehold over first place in the AFC West.
The Chiefs had their chance to inch closer to the Denver Broncos, who entered Sunday with an 8-2 record. Not to mention that earlier in the day, the Los Angeles Chargers lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Chiefs did manage to take a late 19-16 lead, but gave up field goals to Wil Lutz on back-to-back drives. The final field goal was a 35-yarder as regulation time expired. [The Chiefs lost 22-19](https://arrowheadaddict.com/winners-and-losers-from-chiefs-miserable-week-11-collapse-in-denver-01ka7h6qfz61).
With the loss, the Chiefs now fall to 5-5 on the season. Are they still in the playoff picture at this point in the season?
Are the Chiefs in the AFC Playoff Picture?
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As mentioned, the Chiefs are now 5-5 on the year, and they are just outside a playoff spot. The final Wild Card spot is held by the Jaguars, who are 6-4 on the season.
The Chiefs are 3.5 games back of the Broncos for first place in the division and have seven games remaining. There is certainly a chance for them to come back and retake first place, but considering the Broncos are on an eight-game winning streak, the Chiefs will have to bank on a collapse. Not to mention, the Chiefs need to properly close out games the rest of the way.
Here's a look at the full playoff picture in the AFC after Sunday's late afternoon slate:
**Playoff Seed**
**Team**
**Record**
No. 1
Denver Broncos
9-2
No. 2
New England Patriots
9-2
No. 3
Indianapolis Colts
8-2
No. 4
Pittsburgh Steelers
6-4
No. 5
Buffalo Bills
7-3
No. 6
Los Angeles Chargers
7-4
No. 7
Jacksonville Jaguars
6-4
If the playoffs started after today, here is what the Wild Card Round matchups could look like:
* (2) New England Patriots vs. (7) Jacksonville Jaguars
* (3) Indianapolis Colts vs. (6) Los Angeles Chargers
* (4) Pittsburgh Steelers vs. (5) Buffalo Bills
There is no need for Chiefs fans to panic just yet. They still have seven games to work with, and are just one game back of the Jaguars for the final playoff berth as of Sunday evening. So there is plenty of time for the Chiefs to turn the season around.
Looking at their remaining schedule this season, the Chiefs face off against three playoff contenders in the Colts next week, the Chargers in Week 15, and the Broncos for their final head-to-head matchup of the regular season on Christmas. But they do have some winnable games, such as the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, the Tennessee Titans in Week 16, and the Las Vegas Raiders for their regular season finale.
There's no need for the Chiefs to panic just yet. But the Chiefs did cost themselves a chance to steal a win away from the Broncos.