I’m going to do a breakdown of each division in the AFC and how it could affect the Chiefs getting the number one seed this year in the playoffs. I’ll be updating this as needed over the coming weeks for each division when big changes happen. Let’s start with the AFC West.
The Chiefs are currently in the catbird seat in the AFC West for what would be the eighth straight season. They are currently at least three games up on every team in the division with eight games to play. We will start with the team in the division that is closest to the Chiefs based on record alone and work through the rest of the teams.
If you missed the prediction episode of Locked on Chiefs I picked the Chiefs to finish the season 14-3. The Chiefs will lose a game against the Eagles, Bills or Bengals, and if I had to pick one I’m guessing Bengals at this point with the Bills falling apart.
Las Vegas Raiders
Currently, the Raiders are 5-5 this season and have not had their bye week yet. They will have seven games remaining with two games against the Chiefs in the next 5 weeks. After the Raiders fired Josh McDaniels and their GM Dave Ziegler they have won the last two games with Antonio Pierce as their head coach. Can they continue getting better throughout the rest of the season is the big question. Their two wins have been against the Giants and the Jets so they have to be taken with a grain of salt.
The Raiders are 1-1 in the division with four divisional games left in their last seven games. They will likely struggle in the coming weeks with games against better teams starting Aidan O’Connell as their QB. While he has led them to two wins in his last two starts the competition is still questionable at best.
A quick look at their remaining schedule: at Dolphins, Chiefs, Vikings, Chargers, at Chiefs, Colts and Broncos. Right now I can’t see them winning the majority of those games. I’m not sure I even see two victories in that schedule remaining. I would think the Raiders could finish 7-10.