If you look at the 2005 NFL schedule I’m sure you’ll see that there are six weeks left in the regular season, followed by the playoffs in January. But for the Chiefs, the regular season concluded with their convincing win in Houston Sunday night. With a 6-4 record and trailing Denver by two games in the AFC West, the Chiefs can ill afford another loss if they want any shot at making the postseason.
In the AFC, four teams will win their divisions’ and gain an automatic playoff berth. Right now the division leaders are: New England (6-4), Pittsburgh (7-3), Indianapolis (10-0) and Denver (8-2). With Denver looking very strong, Kansas City’s best chance at making the playoffs appears to be as a wild card. A quick look at the standings in the AFC currently show four teams vying for the two available wild card spots: Cincinnati (7-3), Jacksonville (7-3), San Diego (6-4) and Kansas City (6-4).
So with six weeks remaining there are basically eight teams fighting for the six AFC playoff spots.
Of the four teams fighting for the wild card spots, Kansas City definitely has the toughest road. The Chiefs will face teams with winning records in each of their remaining games, four of which will be played in the friendly confines of Arrowhead.
Kansas City’s remaining schedule
VS. New England (6-4)
VS. Denver (8-2)
@ Dallas (7-3, tied for 1st in NFC East)
@ NY Giants (7-3, tied for 1st in NFC East)
VS. San Diego (6-4)
VS. Cincinnati (7-3)
Opponent’s Winning Percentage = .683%
San Diego will have their work cut out for them as well, facing only two teams with losing records in their six remaining games.
San Diego’s remaining schedule
@ Washington (5-5)
VS. Oakland (4-6)
VS. Miami (3-7)
@ Indianapolis (10-0)
@ Kansas City (6-4)
VS. Denver (8-2)
Opponent’s Winning Percentage = .600%
Cincinnati appears to have a slightly easier schedule, but they are a young team and it will be interesting to see how they play down the stretch.
Cincinnati’s remaining schedule
VS. Baltimore (3-7)
@ Pittsburgh (7-3)
VS. Cleveland (4-6)
@ Detroit (4-6)
VS. Buffalo (4-6)
@ Kansas City (6-4)
Opponent’s Winning Percentage = .466%
Jacksonville has the easiest remaining schedule, playing only one team with a winning record, and facing three teams with two wins or less.
Jacksonville’s remaining schedule
@ Arizona (3-7)
@ Cleveland (4-6)
VS. Indianapolis (10-0)
VS. San Francisco (2-8)
@ Houston (1-9)
VS. Tennessee (2-8)
Opponent’s Winning Percentage = .366%
Which leaves us with Denver. The Broncos have looked really good the last few weeks and have put together a three game win streak, but they haven’t won the division yet. Kansas City and San Diego still have an outside chance at the division title, and Denver still has to play both of those teams in the next six weeks. Denver has a recent history of falling apart down the stretch, and a loss to Dallas on Thanksgiving Day (combined with a Kansas City win over New England), sure would make things interesting when they visit Arrowhead the following week.
Denver’s remaining schedule
@ Dallas (7-3)
@ Kansas City (6-4)
VS. Baltimore (3-7)
@ Buffalo (4-6)
VS. Oakland (4-6)
VS. San Diego (6-4)
So there’s a brief rundown on the AFC playoff picture with six weeks remaining. For the Chiefs, every game now is a must win. It won’t be easy, but it sure will be a lot of fun to watch.
