KANSAS CITY, Mo. – While the Chiefs won’t openly admit it, there will likely be some scoreboard watching Sunday.
The Denver Broncos (11-3) and Chiefs (11-3) are tied atop the AFC West and have plenty to play for with playoff seeding implications on the line in the final two games of the regular season.
Denver currently owns the tiebreaker over the Chiefs based on the series sweep.
And the Broncos could clinch the division, a first-round bye or home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with the following scenarios, as released by the NFL:
Denver clinches AFC West division and a first-round bye with:
DEN win + KC loss
Denver clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:
DEN win + KC loss + NE loss or tie
The Broncos travel to Houston to take on the Texans (2-12) in an early afternoon contest, the same time slot for the Chiefs, who host the Indianapolis Colts (9-5) at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs clinched a playoff berth in Week 15 and are currently locked in the No. 5 seed as the top wildcard team.
Meanwhile, the New England Patriots (10-4) travel to Baltimore and play the Ravens (8-6) in the late afternoon.
Eight teams remain in contention for a Wild Card spot. Denver, Kansas City and Indianapolis have already clinched a playoff berth.
Here’s how the remaining teams in contention for the final Wild Card spot shapes out. Denver, Kansas City and Indianapolis have already clinched a playoff berth.
| TEAM |
OVERALL |
CONFERENCE |
STRENGTH OF WIN |
SOS |
| Denver* ** |
11-3 |
7-3 |
.474 |
.505 |
| New England** |
10-4 |
7-3 |
.429 |
.474 |
| Cincinnati** |
9-5 |
7-4 |
.488 |
.487 |
| Kansas City* |
11-3 |
7-3 |
.331 |
.408 |
| Baltimore |
8-6 |
6-4 |
.415 |
.449 |
| Miami |
8-6 |
7-3 |
.491 |
.520 |
| San Diego |
7-7 |
4-6 |
.561 |
.495 |
| Pittsburgh |
6-8 |
5-6 |
.464 |
.487 |
* Denver and Kansas City has already clinched a playoff berth
** Denver, Cincinnati and New England lead their respective divisions
