KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Then there were three.
The 32 different playoff scenarios for the Chiefs — barring any ties, naturally — have been pared down to eight after wins Saturday by the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Houston Texans. Houston’s 23-19 win over Indianapolis clinched their playoff spot while eliminating the Colts from the playoff race. Pittsburgh’s 17-10 victory at Baltimore kept their slim postseason hopes alive.
The results of Saturday’s games also mean the Buffalo Bills cannot be the No. 6 seed that would visit the No. 3 seeded Chiefs next weekend in the AFC Wild Card round. The Bills can win the AFC East Sunday night by beating the Dolphins. They can also clinch the No. 7 seed with a loss if the Titans beat the Jaguars.
Only the Texans, Steelers and Miami Dolphins remain in the picture to face Kansas City. The Chiefs have already clinched the AFC West crown and the No. 3 seed, and their playoff position won’t change based on the outcome of their game at the Los Angeles Chargers. Two games on Sunday will determine the Chiefs’ opponent in the opening round of the postseason:
Jacksonville (9-7) at Tennessee (5-11), noon, Sunday, Jan. 7
Jacksonville faces a win-and-they’re-in, lose-and-they’re-out game at the Titans Sunday. If the Jaguars win, they clinch the AFC South. A loss and the Jaguars go home early.
The Titans have no playoff hopes but hold several teams’ fates in their hands. A Tennessee victory eliminates the Jaguars, makes the Texans AFC South champions and clinches a playoff spot for the Steelers.
What a Jacksonville win means: Chiefs will face either Dolphins or Texans.
What a Tennessee win means: Chiefs will face either Dolphins or Steelers.
Buffalo (10-6) at Miami (11-5), 7:20 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 7
This is the biggest game of the day in the NFL, and that’s why it’s the Sunday night game. The Chiefs won’t know their playoff opponent until this one concludes.
The outcomes are relatively simple for the Dolphins, which have already clinched a playoff spot. With a Miami victory, the Dolphins secure the AFC East and the No. 2 seed. A loss makes the Dolphins the No. 6 seed.
Of the eight remaining playoff possibilities, the Bills make the playoffs in six of them. The only one in which they don’t is with a loss to Miami and a Jacksonville victory. That would make the Dolphins the No. 2 seed, Jacksonville No. 4, Houston No. 6 and Pittsburgh No. 7.
What Jacksonville/Miami wins mean: Chiefs face the Texans.
What Jacksonville/Buffalo wins mean: Chiefs face the Dolphins.
What Tennessee/Miami wins mean: Chiefs face the Steelers.
What Tennessee/Buffalo wins mean: Chiefs face the Dolphins.
The NFL is expected to unveil the Wild Card Weekend schedule during the end of the Bills-Dolphins contest or shortly after the game. The six games are spread over three days with two contests on Saturday, a tripleheader Sunday and the final game Monday night.
