Chiefs playoff picture: Breaking down Kansas City's seeding scenarios in 2022 NFL bracket

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From No. 1 to No. 4, the possibilities are endless for Kansas City.

The Chiefs are successful the playoffs for the seventh consecutive play connected the backmost of their 5th consecutive part crown. Their playoff travel is conscionable getting started, though, and their playoff seeding has yet to beryllium settled. 

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While their playoff berth has been clinched, the Chiefs tin onshore anyplace from the No. 1 effect to the No. 4 effect depending connected results from this weekend's games. What's astir important is that KC takes attraction of concern vs. the Broncos. The remainder is retired of their control.

Here's however it shakes out: 

How the Chiefs tin get the No. 1 effect successful AFC

It's beauteous simple. The Chiefs tin re-secure the No. 1 effect successful the AFC with:

• A triumph vs. the Broncos AND a Titans nonaccomplishment to the Texans;
• A necktie vs. the Broncos AND a Titans nonaccomplishment to the Texans.

So, really, it's hard to spot a spot wherever the Chiefs extremity up with the apical effect successful the AFC this weekend.

But, if there's immoderate hope for the Chiefs and the No. 1 effect in the AFC, it's this: The Texans presently clasp a triumph implicit the Titans successful the 2021 season. Houston downed the Titans successful Nashville successful Week 11, winning 22-13. Now, the Titans question to Houston successful Week 18.

The Titans person besides had a inclination to playing down to their opponents this year, losing to the Texans, the 4-12 Jets and the Steelers.

Christmas mightiness person travel and gone, but the Chiefs may inactive beryllium hoping there's a occurrence near successful the bag. 

How the Chiefs tin get the No. 2 effect successful AFC

Kansas City mightiness miss retired connected the No. 1 seed, but they tin inactive clinch the No. 2 effect with the following:

• A triumph implicit the Broncos OR;
• A nonaccomplishment vs. the Broncos AND losses by the Bills, Patriots and Bengals.

The benefits of the No. 2 effect are importantly little appealing with the NFL expanding the playoffs to see an other squad successful each conference. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds utilized to get the vantage of having a first-round bye, but now, the No. 2 effect indispensable play vs. the No. 7 effect during wild-card weekend.

Other Chiefs AFC seeding scenarios

Kansas City tin spell anyplace from the No. 1 effect to the No. 3 oregon 4 effect with definite results during Week 18:

• If the Chiefs suffer and the Bengals suffer and the Bills win, the Chiefs volition beryllium the No. 3 seed.
• If the Chiefs suffer and the Bengals and Bills some win, the Chiefs volition beryllium the No. 4 seed.

These results are somewhat autarkic of what happens with the Patriots-Dolphins matchup.