The Kansas City Chiefs must conclude the season by beating two divisional opponents to total with a 14-3 epic. That, in belief, would give them no worse than the second seed within the AFC playoffs. They may possibly composed “originate” the pinnacle declare within the AFC if the Buffalo Bills were to lose one of their final two games and the Chiefs obtained out. Buffalo is favored in each of its final games, though, so Kansas City is larger than likely to be taking part in on Wild Card Weekend.
There is an assortment of seemingly opponents for the Chiefs’ opening playoff game. Let’s take a stare upon the field and wicked Kansas City’s opponents in tiers.
Tier 1: Upset Alert – Los Angeles Chargers
Every Chiefs fan is probably going sweating focused on taking part within the Chargers all over again. Kansas City obtained each matchups this 12 months, but handiest by a mixed six aspects. Or now now not it is complicated to beat a bunch of workers three instances in a single season. No quarterback is on the stage of Patrick Mahomes, however the Chargers comprise one who is within the tier below. These are the teams that comprise given the Chiefs essentially the most issues within the playoffs within the Mahomes skills.
While Brandon Staley has made some questionable decisions within the previous, he has supplied lawful defensive game plans for Andy Reid and the Chiefs’ offense correct by device of their matchups. With the seemingly returns of Joey Bosa and Rashawn Slater looming down the road, the Chiefs must need no share of this group of workers within the playoffs’ opening round.
Tier 2: Potentially Abominable – Miami Dolphins
The concussion recount with Tua Tagovailoa may possibly well possibly produce this group of workers miss the playoffs totally. On the different hand, if the Dolphins are fully wholesome, they’re a upsetting out. Chiefs fans know that Tyreek Hill can damage a game by himself and when pairing that with Jaylen Toddle, that’s barely the handful to handle. Or now now not it is a execrable matchup for the Chiefs’ defense, which loves to head away their corners in single protection.
The offense must haven’t got any recount scoring 30-plus against the Dolphins’ defense. Though in a shootout, one play can replace the game, and Miami has studs on the defensive line who can give the Chiefs’ tackles issues. While the Chiefs comprise a giant quarterback profit on this matchup, Miami is composed a fancy out attributable to its individual stars.
Tier 3: You Have My Attention – Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars
Neither of these teams is a seemingly opening-round opponent for the Chiefs, on the different hand it is a long way seemingly. Baltimore and Jacksonville comprise lawful quarterbacks that will possibly well web sizzling at any second but must be extra consistent to be a accurate possibility to the Chiefs. On the other hand, they current satisfactory of a recount that Kansas City must play decent to dangle. We saw the Chiefs already handle the Jaguars as soon as this season with none accurate recount. The rep may possibly well possibly were worse if they hadn’t called the proverbial dogs off. As for Baltimore, they’re now now not constructed to dangle within the playoffs, and the Chiefs comprise historically matched up smartly with that current core.
Tier 4: Week 3 Repeat? – New York Jets and Tennessee Titans
Offensively, out of doorways of 1 player, neither of these teams has the firepower to compete with the Chiefs. On the different hand, if Kansas City has a identical performance to what we saw in Indianapolis earlier this 12 months, both group of workers may possibly well possibly sneak up on the Chiefs. Each teams current lawful defenses, especially up entrance, that will possibly well possibly give the Chiefs’ offense some issues. Even with their top defenses, on the different hand, they would wish varied mistakes from Kansas City so that you may possibly pull off the upset.
Tier 5: Better Than A Bye – New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers
Shoutout to Reduce Wright for this. He famously acknowledged final 12 months that taking part within the Steelers on Wild Card Weekend used to be “better than a bye.” The Chiefs then went out and smoked Pittsburgh by a final rep of 42-21. The phrase is supposed to issue that the opponent poses no threat to indubitably beating the Chiefs, however the Chiefs moreover are now not getting the rust of having to take a seat down down that week for the period of the bye. As long because the Chiefs abet a long way off from peril on this seemingly matchup, they are going to switch on with out a sweat.
