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How Chiefs Can Clinch AFC's No. 1 Playoff Seed After Win vs. Texans
The Kansas City Chiefs tied a franchise record Saturday with their 14th win of the season, emerging victorious by one possession yet again in a 27–19 triumph over the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs (14-1) clinched a playoff berth back in November and the AFC West division in early December. The only thing remaining for quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to accomplish in the regular season is to lock up the AFC's top playoff seed to secure home-field advantage throughout their push for a historic Super Bowl three-peat.
Kansas City didn't clinch the No. 1 playoff seed with its win over Houston, but the Chiefs are close. They will claim the top seed this weekend if the Buffalo Bills (11-3) tie or lose to the New England Patriots (3-11) at home on Sunday.
If that doesn't happen—and it most likely won't, as Bills quarterback Josh Allen is playing at an MVP level and the Patriots have lost four straight games—the Chiefs' pursuit of the No. 1 seed will leak into Week 17.
If the Bills beat New England, Kansas City can lock up the No. 1 seed with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Christmas Day.
It hasn't exactly been a stress-free ride this season for the 14-1 Chiefs, who now have won a remarkable 11 games by one possession. Claiming the AFC's No. 1 playoff seed and securing home-field advantage and a first-round bye might be a perfectly timed holiday gift for the back-to-back Super Bowl champions.
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Tom Dierberger is a staff writer and editor on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in November 2023 after stints at FOX Sports, Bally Sports and NBC Sports. Dierberger has a bachelor's in communication from St. John's University. In his spare time, he can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.