The NFL’s weekly “playoff scenarios” arrived in the ol’ in-box this week, and for the Kansas City Chiefs, the path forward could not be more clear.
A win Sunday at Cincinnati and Tennessee loss to Miami would guarantee the Chiefs (11-4) a coveted first-round playoff bye and homefield advantage at Arrowhead Stadium throughout the playoffs.
Even if the Chiefs, who have played host to a record three straight AFC Championship Games, were to lose to the Bengals, there’s a scenario in which they could still clinch the AFC’s top seed this weekend: with a tie against Cinci and a Titans loss to Miami.
And if that fails, well, it would all come down to the final weekend of the regular season, and the Chiefs’ Jan. 9 game in Denver against the Broncos.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves here. The point being, not all teams are so fortunate, or the scenarios so simple, as the playoffs approach in Kansas City.
Consider the Bengals’ situation, for example, as spelled out thoughtfully by the NFL.
Cincinnati (9-6) clinches the AFC North division title with:
a CIN win or
CIN tie + BAL loss or tie or
BAL loss + CLE-PIT tie.
Cincinnati clinches a playoff berth with:
a CIN tie + LAC loss + LV loss + MIA loss or tie or …
CIN tie + LAC loss + LV loss + NE loss or …
CIN tie + LAC loss + LV tie + MIA loss or tie + NE win or …
CIN tie + LAC loss + LV tie + NE tie + MIA tie + BUF win or tie or …
CIN tie + LAC loss + LV tie + NE loss + MIA win + BUF win or tie.
And then there are some other clinching scenarios for Cincinnati that involve multiple tie games …
Is your head spinning yet?
If you think that’s a lot to digest, check out the scenario awaiting the 9-6 Buffalo Bills. Remember when they were viewed as a key threat to the Chiefs’ quest to reach a third straight Super Bowl?
They could yet be, but first they’ll need to navigate this labyrinth:
Buffalo, playing Atlanta this week, clinches a playoff berth with:
a BUF win + BAL loss or tie or …
BUF win + LAC loss or tie + LV loss or tie or …
BUF tie + MIA loss or tie + LAC loss + LV loss or …
BUF tie + MIA loss or tie + LAC loss or tie + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie or …
BUF tie + MIA loss or tie + LV loss or tie + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie or …
BUF tie + NE loss or tie + LAC Loss + LV loss or …
BUF tie + NE loss or tie + LAC loss or tie + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie or …
BUF tie + NE loss or tie + LV loss or tie + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie or …
BUF tie + LAC loss + LV loss + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie.
Whew.
We’ll say it again: The Chiefs’ path forward — a No. 1 seed and first-round bye — is pretty simple.
And for that we can all be thankful.