Week 13 AFC Playoff Picture: KC Chiefs Have Chance to Regain Top Seed
Twelve weeks of the 2023 NFL season have passed, yet all 32 NFL teams are still technically in the playoff hunt. With that said, a realistic lens can figure out which clubs are either fringe contenders or flat-out postseason opponents for the most part. Mathematical elimination scenarios start coming into play this week.
One franchise that once again drops into the latter bucket is the Kansas City Chiefs. Andy Reid's squad got back on track with a Sunday victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, propelling them to 8-3 on the year. The Chiefs control their destiny within the conference and are generally in a sparkling position entering the final stretch of the season. The AFC is shaping up to be quite the battle, however, as plenty of teams are within striking distance of a prime position or are clawing for a low seed come playoff time.
With the postseason approaching, which teams are threats to Kansas City in the conference? Are there any clubs set to potentially rise or fall in the coming weeks? Let's take a look at the Week 13 AFC playoff picture and find out.
1: Baltimore Ravens (9-3)
The Ravens have been banged up this year, so their bye week couldn't have arrived at a much better time. John Harbaugh's group is one of the NFL's best this year, winning six of its last seven games. That lone loss was a two-point defeat, highlighting how competitive and consistent the Ravens have been in recent weeks. With a rejuvenated Lamar Jackson and one of the league's best defenses leading the way, Baltimore must be accounted for coming out of the bye. With all of their remaining games coming against teams with playoff aspirations, though, the final road won't be an easy one.
2: Kansas City Chiefs (8-3)
The Chiefs may trail the Ravens in the standings, but all of that could change for good this weekend. Kansas City can catch Baltimore with a Sunday Night Football victory over the Green Bay Packers. As quarterback Patrick Mahomes hinted at on Wednesday, all the Chiefs have to do is win out and they secure home-field advantage throughout the postseason. That's much easier said than done, but their schedule over the next month-plus isn't daunting.
3: Jacksonville Jaguars (8-3)
After starting the season 1-2, the Jaguars have not-so-quietly won seven of their last eight games. The club boasts the NFL's No. 12-ranked scoring offense and scoring defense, serving as a well-rounded team that will be a tough out down the stretch. There are questions about the consistency of the offense moving forward, but Jacksonville can send a major statement over its next three games (home vs. the Cincinnati Bengals, at the Cleveland Browns and home vs. the Ravens).
4: Miami Dolphins (8-3)
The Dolphins are 3-2 since starting the year 5-1, with those two losses coming against the Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. The question moving forward continues to be whether Mike McDaniel's group can rise to the level of its competition. There aren't many opportunities to find that out in the immediate future but a closing slate against the Dallas Cowboys, the Ravens and the Buffalo Bills should tell us more about the viability of this year's Miami team. Because of the offense alone, they remain a serious threat.
5: Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4)
Without Matt Canada dialing up one of the league's most underwhelming offensive attacks, there's a case to be made that it's time to reevaluate the ceiling of the Steelers. On the other hand, the jury is still totally out on quarterback Kenny Pickett regardless. Pittsburgh's defense, coaching and ball security make them a tough opponent to face, but is there another gear to be reached? A very favorable schedule in Weeks 13-18 (opponents have a combined 30-38 record) could help the Steelers flex their muscles a bit.
6: Cleveland Browns (7-4)
In some ways, the Browns are similar to the Steelers. They have a highly questionable quarterback situation but also boast a truly elite defense and find themselves set up nicely for the remainder of the year. Cleveland is a winner of three of its last four games and went 2-1 during that stretch against teams currently in the playoff hunt. Whether you believe in the long-term sustainability of this squad, it's another one to acknowledge as a possible playoff team right now.
7: Indianapolis Colts (6-5)
When the Colts were 3-5 and the football world already knew that rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson was done for the year, did anyone believe the team would be in this spot right now? That answer is likely no, even with Indianapolis having defeated three consecutive subpar clubs to get here. Gardner Minshew and company have some very winnable games coming up (four of their last six opponents currently have losing records), so perhaps it's time to at least entertain the thought of a Wild Card round with the Colts on folks' television screens.
Close but no cigar: Houston Texans (6-5), Denver Broncos (6-5), Buffalo Bills (6-6)
There's no hotter team in the league right now than the Broncos, who are riding a five-game winning streak into this weekend. They have some company, however, in the close-quarters battle for a potential No. 7 seed. Rookie CJ Stroud and the Texans aren't fading away, and they square off against Denver this Sunday. Buffalo is on super thin ice after a Week 12 loss to the Eagles, although it's hard to count Josh Allen all the way out until he mathematically can't make a run.