The Kansas City Chiefs got one step closer to the NFL playoffs this week as they beat the St. Louis Rams to move to 9-5 on the season. They continue to control their destiny as they sit in first place in the AFC West one game ahead of the San Diego Chargers.
The Chiefs, if the playoffs started today, would be the No. 3 seed in the AFC. There are two weeks left which means there are all kinds of scenarios and things that can change but it's looking like we'll likely see one of these four teams visiting Arrowhead IF the Chiefs make the playoffs -- Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers or New York Jets.
How would the Chiefs matchup in those games? Here's a look starting with my least favorite matchup and counting down to the best one.
San Diego Chargers: The Chargers could win out and steal a wildcard spot from the Jets if New York continues to slip up. As for this potential matchup, let's face it. The Chargers own the Chiefs in the Todd Haley era. Three of their four games have been total blowouts and the Chiefs needed a punt return touchdown (and a big time Monday Night Football crowd) to beat them once this year. I don't like anything about this matchup. I don't know what it is about San Diego but the location doesn't matter. They dominate the Chiefs.
Baltimore Ravens: We know what their defense brings. They're among the best in the NFL as they are every year. Offensively though this team is effective. Joe Flacco can beat you on big plays and they can still pound the rock. There's really nothing I like about this matchup, either. This would be a tough one.
Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers are the Steelers. They're going to win a lot of games and be a serious Super Bowl threat as they always are. The Chiefs beat these Steelers in Arrowhead Stadium last year so they know they can do it. This game at Arrowhead would be under slightly different circumstances, though.
New York Jets: Believe it or not, I actually think this is one of the Chiefs more favorable matchups. The defense, as we know, is pretty awesome. They're a very strong defense that would be a big problem for the Chiefs, especially some of those blitzes Rex Ryan comes up with. But the Chiefs would be going against a second-year quarterback who is prone to mistakes at times. That would be their "in" with this game -- creating Mark Sanchez turnovers. If they can do that, then who knows? This would be a tough game -- as all January games are -- but of the possibilities I think this is the one I'd like to see the most for KC.
Loading comments...