The Kansas City Chiefs went into Week 12 with their backs against the wall. They had a matchup with the Indianapolis Colts and a loss would have pushed the Chiefs sub .500, putting their playoff hopes in jeopardy.
The Chiefs came out and battled all game, forcing the action to go into overtime. The Kansas City defense got a three-and-out and the Chiefs had a 12-play, 81-yard drive that ended with a game-winning 27-yard field goal for Harrison Butker.
Kansas City heads into Week 13 with a 6-5 record, but are still on the outside looking in for the AFC playoff picture if the playoffs began today. The Chiefs hold the No. 10 seed, but only the top seven teams make the playoff field. Kansas City is used to not having to worry about making the playoffs as a Wild Card team because it has won the AFC West nine seasons in a row, which has guaranteed the Chiefs a top-four seed every year.
After an overtime win against Indianapolis, Kansas City is now on a short week. The Chiefs will go on the road to take on the Dallas Cowboys in the second game of the three-game Thanksgiving slate.
Here is more on the Chiefs' chance to make the 2025 postseason in Week 13.
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Chiefs playoff picture
The win in Week 12 over the Colts didn't help the Chiefs jump any spots in the rankings, but it helped them close the gap. The Denver Broncos (9-2, leading the division) and the Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) were both on bye. This allowed Kansas City to move a game closer in the divisional standings. The Chiefs have little room for error if they want to continue their nine-year division winning streak, as they trail the Broncos by three games. Kansas City and Denver will also face each other in Week 17, which could end up being for the division.
The Chiefs head into Week 13 trailing the No. 7 seed Buffalo Bills by only one game. If Kansas City can notch wins in Week 13 and Week 14, for example, with the Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Buffalo Bills all losing both weeks, the Chiefs would jump all the way to the No. 5 seed and control their own destiny for the playoffs.
Kansas City was going to face a steep uphill battle with a Week 12 loss to Indianapolis, but overtime could be the momentum spark that the Chiefs need to look like the dynasty we have seen over the last nine years.
Rank Team Record
1 New England Patriots 10-2
2 Denver Broncos 9-2
3 Indianapolis Colts 8-3
4 Baltimore Ravens 6-5
5 Los Angeles Chargers 7-4
6 Jacksonville Jaguars 7-4
7 Buffalo Bills 7-4
8 Pittsburgh Steelers 6-5
9 Houston Texans 6-5
10 Kansas City Chiefs 6-5
11 Miami Dolphins 4-7
12 Cincinnati Bengals 3-8
13 Cleveland Browns 3-8
14 Las Vegas Raiders 2-9
15 New York Jets 2-9
16 Tennessee Titans 1-10
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Chiefs remaining schedule
Kansas City has an interesting schedule on paper the rest of the way. The Chiefs have to play on the road in Dallas in Week 13, but then return home to host the Texans. Houston, which beat the Bills in Week 12, sits ahead of Kansas City in the playoff hunt.
The Chiefs then have four games remaining, and they look like two tough games and two trap games. Kansas City has two tough divisional games left, but the good news is that both are at home. The Chiefs need these wins not only for the playoff standings but also for tiebreakers, to give them a better chance if it comes down to it. Kansas City also faces the Tennessee Titans and the Las Vegas Raiders. Both teams are expected to play for pride with nothing to lose, so the Chiefs will need to avoid the trap game.
If Kansas City can win out, it has a good chance of making the playoffs. A loss doesn't eliminate the Chiefs by any means, but any more losses just mean that the franchise needs that much more help from other teams around the league.
Week Opponent
14 vs. Texans
15 vs. Chargers
16 at Titans
17 vs. Broncos
18 at Raiders
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