The Kansas City Chiefs still sit atop the AFC conference with a 13-1 record after defeating the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The Chiefs have already clinched their 9th consecutive AFC West division title and are guaranteed at least one home playoff game once the postseason begins. However, the Chiefs still have one big box left to check this regular season: secure the #1 seed in the AFC and clinch a first-round bye in the postseason. Earning the #1 seed in the AFC would allow the Chiefs to sit out Wild Card Weekend and earn some much-needed rest before making a playoff run. Earning the top seed in the AFC would also give Kansas City home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, ensuring every playoff game the Chiefs play before the Super Bowl would be at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
With 3 games remaining in the regular season, Kansas City holds a 2-game lead over the 11-3 Buffalo Bills and a 3-game lead over the 10-4 Pittsburgh Steelers for the top seed in the AFC. The Buffalo Bills hold the tiebreaker over Kansas City by virtue of beating them head-to-head in week 11, meaning if the Chiefs and Bills were to finish with the same record at the end of the season, Buffalo would earn the #1 seed. The race for the #1 seed in the AFC is likely down to Kansas City and Buffalo at this point, Pittsburgh still has a difficult remaining schedule and would need a lot of help to earn the top seed. If Kansas City can win 2 of its remaining 3 games, it will lock up the #1 seed in the playoffs and secure the coveted bye. Kansas City was the #3 seed in the postseason last year and did not have the first-round bye. However, the Chiefs were locked into their seed going into the final regular season game, which allowed them to rest some key starters before the playoffs began. The Chiefs are currently dealing with injuries to key players, including a high-ankle sprain to quarterback Patrick Mahomes and a shoulder injury to wide receiver Hollywood Brown (who hasn’t played all season but began practicing last week).
Securing the top seed in the AFC playoffs would give the Chiefs more time to get healthy for the playoffs as they try to become the NFL’s first-ever team to win three-consecutive Super Bowl championships.