The effective moment of life or crime has arrived for the Kansas City Chiefs. They could remain eliminated from playoff contention in Week 15.
Earlier in the season, it seemed highly unlikely that the Chiefs would miss the playoffs. The idea that they would have three meaningless games at the end of the season after being eliminated was inconceivable. But with a loss to the Chargers it’s possible the Chiefs could be officially eliminated in Week 15. There are several ways it could happen, but the cleanest is if the Bills, Jaguars and Texans win other than the Chargers beating the Chiefs.
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Even if the Chiefs aren’t mathematically eliminated after a loss this week, the odds of them making the playoffs would be microscopic. It’s not like they have much of a chance even with a trophy. According to NFL.com, their playoff odds would increase from 12% to 19% if they beat the Chargers.
On the other hand, the Chargers’ playoff odds would increase to 93% with a trophy. It’s been a very good season for them, overcoming injuries to put themselves in a great position for a playoff spot. One of their biggest wins came in Week 1, when they defeated the Chiefs in Brazil. Entering on Sunday would ensure the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Chiefs, although that likely won’t be necessary.
(Yahoo deportes/Grant Thomas)
The Chargers overcoming injuries to a 9-4 start is commendable, but the story of the NFL season has been the Chiefs and their fall to a 6-7 record with four games remaining. For those hoping to see the Chiefs officially out of the postseason, Sunday could be the day.
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Here are the other Week 15 games that will have the same impact on the playoff picture:
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots
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If we had known three months ago that this Week 15 game would be an essential enforcer for the AFC East championship, it would have made sense. The Bills were expected to win the division by several games.
But there was a windlass. It’s the 11-2 Patriots who can clinch the AFC East with a trophy over the 9-4 Bills. The Patriots already beat the Bills in Buffalo this season, part of a 10-game winning play. It seems like an AFC East title is almost a must for the Patriots, so separate from the celebration of ending the Bills’ drive for five straight division titles, the trophy might be more important in the race for the AFC’s No. 1 seed. The Patriots and Broncos are tied for first place, and each of those teams has a tough game on Sunday.
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Green Bay Packers vs. Denver Broncos
The Broncos have a great chance to top the division. DVOA projections put them with a 91.6% chance of topping the AFC West. But Denver doesn’t even want to open the door for the Chargers to make a late push. The Broncos are even pushing for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and this week could see more clarity in that race.
Denver will have a challenge with the Packers, who took first place in the NFC North with a victory over the Bears in Week 14. The Packers only have one shot at the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and a Week 16 game in Chicago should virtually clinch the NFC North championship. Maybe Green Bay will get caught looking ahead a bit.
Detroit Lions at Los Angeles Rams
It looks like the Lions and Bears are destined to meet in Week 18 with an NFC playoff spot at hand. There’s a long way to go before that, and a win over the Rams would put Detroit in a better position to fight for a playoff spot. The problem is that they haven’t had a two-game winning streak since Week 5. Detroit is coming off a trophy win over Dallas in Week 14.
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The Rams are in a tough spot this week. The Lions are a quality team. But Los Angeles’ game of the season comes four days later, when they play the Seahawks in Seattle on a nightly Thursday. The Rams and Seahawks are tied atop the NFC West at 10-3. Like the Packers, maybe the Rams will look ahead a bit.
Indianapolis Colts at Seattle Seahawks
The Colts are seemingly falling out of the playoff picture following a season-ending bruise to quarterback Daniel Jones. But they still have a chance if Philip Rivers or another quarterback can save them. It would be a great story if they recover to make the playoffs, and a heartbreak if they go from 7-1 to continue out of the playoffs.
Because of Jones’ bruise last week, the Seahawks suddenly found themselves with a much more obvious opportunity in Week 15, before their matchup with the Rams. If the Seahawks can beat a shorthanded Colts team on Sunday, and then follow up with a trophy victory over the Rams on Thursday, they would have the inside track to overtake the NFC West and even earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They’ll even support a Lions trophy on Sunday.
